Many people who drive while very tired may not realize how dangerous they are to themselves and others on the road. "Sleepy driving," also known as "drowsy driving," is not a safe option. Though it may not seem as bad as drunk driving, it can result in serious accidents and possibly death. To drive sleepy is to take a risk that should not be taken and to place yourself and others in danger on the road.
In a recent Nevada accident in Mesquite, a father and his two sons were victims of sleepy driving when one of the sons fell asleep at the wheel at around 7:00 p.m. Upon realizing what was happening, the father began yelling at the son to wake him up, but at that point it was too late. The car hit the guardrail, causing a large amount of damage to the vehicle. The driver and passengers were able to get out of the accident and refused medical services at the scene. They sustained only minor injuries, but the outcome could easily have been much more serious.
HOW TO IDENTIFY SLEEPY DRIVING
It is important for drivers to know the signs that may mean they are too tired to be behind the wheel. Some signs that a driver is too sleepy to drive and should stop and rest are things like having difficulty focusing, frequently blinking and heavy eyelids that feel as though they have to close. Other signs include wandering thoughts, severe and repeated yawning and drifting from one lane to another. Sleepy driving is very common. Sixty percent of driving adults say they have driven while sleepy and 37 percent of them say that while they drove sleepy they actually fell asleep. This means that 62 million people have likely fallen asleep or been close to falling asleep at the wheel.
There is no test for sleepiness like there is for a DUI, so it is more difficult for officers to identify drivers who are operating without rest. Some states do not even have laws on the books against driving without adequate sleep. Some things to note are that people of a certain age are more likely to participate in sleepy driving. Drivers in the age group 18-29 are most likely to drive sleepy, and men are more than twice as likely as women to fall asleep at the wheel. Falling asleep at the wheel is very dangerous, not just for the driver but for everyone on the road.
If you or someone you know has been in an accident involving a sleepy driver and needs legal representation, call High Stakes Injury Law in Las Vegas. Our Las Vegas auto accident lawyers have experience in handling accidents of all types and will work with you to recover damages for your injuries.