Driving while intoxicated gets a very bad rap, and, of course, this is justifiably so. At the same time, however, there is another equally insidious threat to safe driving that many drivers neglect—lack of sleep. As noted in a recent CNN article, operating a vehicle while drowsy has proven to be just as dangerous as driving drunk. According to a studies cited in the article, driving after having been awake for 20 hours straight impairs a typical driver just as much as driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.08%.
Since it is difficult for investigators to determine whether a driving accident was related to excessive sleepiness, estimates on sleep-related driving fatalities are modest. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration approximates that at least 100,000 people are involved in fatigue-related car accidents per year, killing about 1,550 people and injuring over 70,000.
While driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is still a very frequent occurrence, it is somewhat held in check by the extreme cultural stigma attached to it. On the other hand, in America at least, sleep deprivation is not stigmatized; it is basically encouraged. In a culture in which productivity at work and home is more socially valuable than an individual’s overall health, many Americans go about their daily routine while being chronically sleep-deprived.
Several National Sleep Foundations polls have demonstrated the extent to which driving while sleepy is a problem. In 2005, of the 1,000 people surveyed, 60% admitted to driving while drowsy in the past year, and as many as 37% admitted to actually falling asleep while driving. These statistics indicate that a large portion of the population regularly operates a vehicle under conditions of insufficient sleep.
Unlike driving under the influence, it is not a crime to drive while fatigued in most states. In fact, New Jersey is the only state in which driving while knowingly sleep deprived is legally prosecuted. Under Maggie’s Law, a law that was passed about eight years ago in response to a college student being killed by driver who hadn’t slept in over 30 hours, drowsy drivers can be charged with homicide. Although not a specific law in other states, driving while fatigued often falls under the category of reckless driving, another criminal offense.
In the final analysis, even if you are careful about avoiding a situation in which you are drinking and driving, DUIs are not the only driving risk you should be aware of. The best way to avoid driving while drowsy is to get adequate amounts of sleep daily. If you are driving long stretches at a time on a road trip, never drive alone. Do not operate vehicles if you are taking new medication that might make you drowsy. Most importantly, be honest with yourself if you are too sleepy to drive. Pull over and rest—the risk isn’t worth it.
Byline:
This is a guest post by Kimberly Wilson. Kimberly is from accredited online colleges, she writes on topics including career, education, student life, college life, home improvement, time management etc.