Charles J Argento, Accident and Injury Attorney
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What is drowsy driving?

On Behalf of | Sep 16, 2017 | blog

From the use of illicit drugs and alcohol to distractions such as texting and trying to use a GPS, motor vehicle collisions happen for diverse reasons. However, some people do not recognize just how dangerous drowsiness can be for drivers in Houston and all other parts of Texas. Not only can fatigued driving cause a driver to fall asleep while behind the wheel, but it could also cause them to have difficulty avoiding an accident, following the speed limit or obeying other traffic safety laws.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that drowsy driving has many causes, from working for too long and missing sleep to taking certain kinds of medication. Drowsiness can prevent a driver from making the best decisions when operating a vehicle, cause them to have a slower reaction time, and lead them to divert their focus from the road. In fact, data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows that an estimated 800 fatalities and 44,000 injuries were the result of drowsy driving over the course of 2013.

Many people have sleep disorders in the U.S., while some have to work late shifts. For people who worry that they are dangerously tired, it is important to avoid drowsy driving at all costs. Moreover, drivers who are drowsy should never depend on coffee to stay alert behind the wheel. Unfortunately, these crashes, which could have been prevented, have destroyed a devastating number of lives and will continue to result in fatalities and debilitating injuries in the future.