Personal Injury Attorney | Drowsy Driving Prevention

Bakersfield Personal Injury Attorney helping drivers reduce their risk on the road when it comes to drowsy driving.

Personal Injury Attorney | Drowsy drivers are a dangerous addition to America’s roads. With nearly one-quarter of American adults saying that they know someone who has fallen asleep at the wheel, it’s no wonder that drowsy driving has become an increasingly concerning issue on our nation’s roads. From 2011 to 2015, 4,121 lives were claimed due to car accidents related to drowsy driving.

The National Safety Council warns against these symptoms of drowsy driving:

• Frequent yawning or difficulty keeping your eyes open
• “Nodding off” or having trouble keeping your head up
• Inability to remember driving the last few miles
• Missing road signs or turns
• Difficulty maintaining your speed
• Drifting out of your lane

One staggering statistic from the American Sleep Foundation tells us that more than half of all U.S. drivers admit to consistently operating a vehicle while feeling drowsy. Drowsy driving can be hazardous to you, your passengers and other motorists around you. Driving when fatigued affects awareness and attention behind the wheel and greatly reduces the driver’s reaction time.

Our team of Personal Injury Attorneys advise you to follow these safety tips to prevent drowsy driving and reduce your risk on the road.  

Remember the following tips and help put an end to tragic drowsy driving accidents.

• If you’ve been awake for 24 hours or more, do not drive. It isn’t safe.
• Travel during times you are normally awake.
• If you feel fatigued, stop and drink something with caffeine.
• Make sure you are not fatigued by any medications you might be taking. If you are, use public transportation instead.
• On long road trips, make a pit stop every 100 miles (or every two hours) to stretch, get something to eat or drink and break up the monotony of the road.
• If you simply cannot shake your exhaustion, stop and nap in a safe place.

Adults need seven to nine hours of sleep every night. For many of us, stress, responsibility and distractions make it hard to get this recommended amount. That means that many of us are susceptible to drowsy driving much of the time. Statistics show us that men are slightly more at risk for fatigued driving as are people between the ages of 18 and 25. Most fall asleep accidents happen at high speeds, on long road trips or rural highways. Armed with this knowledge and the above warning signs and safety tips, you can help to reduce the number of drowsy drivers on the road.

If you have suffered a personal injury due to drowsy driving, contact The Personal Injury Department at The Law Offices of Young Wooldridge, LLP. A personal injury attorney at The Law Offices of Young Wooldridge, LLP can inform you of legal options you may not know you have.