New Study Finds Many Drive while Sleepy

A recent study conducted by AAA has discovered that it is not uncommon for many drivers to get behind the wheel of a vehicle in a sleepy or drowsy state. This may factor into the reason that car accidents cause over 40,000 deaths a year. The study discovered that one in six accidents is caused by drowsy or sleepy driving. The highest rate of sleepy driving was found in males under the age of 24. The risk of sleepy driving increased when a driver had passengers in the vehicle, which makes sense as it would more than likely keep the driver focused or alert.

Some of the things sleepy driving can cause are inability to keep head up behind the wheel, swerving in and out of lanes, inability to remember miles of driving, and missed exits and turns. Missing an exit or turn may result in more accidents than one would originally think. Doing so may cause the driver to venture into unfamiliar roads or make him or her try unorthodox maneuvers to correct the mistake and return to a proper route.

Often, the result of a car accident or truck accident can be traced back to sleepy driving by evaluating a truck driver’s driving log or an individual’s schedule before the accident. If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in Missouri or Illinois, call the accident injury attorneys at Henderson & Waterkotte, P.C. to make sure a proper investigation of the accident is prepared. We are available 24/7 and collect no fee unless we recover compensation on your behalf.