Drowsy Driving Prevention Week® Aims to Keep Drivers Alert

At 2:00 am on November 4^th, Daylight Savings Time comes to an end in the U.S. Nearly everywhere in the nation, clocks will turn back one hour. Many people find adjusting to this new time difficult. The effects can include loss of sleep and a tired feeling that resembles jet lag. Appropriately enough, November 4^th-11^th is the start of Drowsy Driving Prevention Week^®.

Troubling Statistics

Even though drivers with passengers are 50% less likely to become involved in a crash related to drowsy driving; other, more-troubling statistics indicate the following trends:

• 54% of U.S. drivers admit they have driven a vehicle while feeling drowsy
• 30% of women and 52% of men report they have fallen asleep while driving
• 55% of drivers who fell asleep behind the wheel state that it happened while on the highway
• 28% of Americans admit to falling asleep behind the wheel within the past year
• 8% of women and 14% of men claim to have fallen asleep while driving in the past year
• 59% of drivers who fell asleep behind the wheel say it happened in the first hour
• 20% of drivers who fell asleep behind the wheel say it took three or more hours
• 26% of those who fell asleep reported that it happened between noon and 5:00 pm

The Goal of Drowsy Driving Prevention Week

A poll conducted by the National Sleep Foundation reveals 97% of motorists see drowsy driving as a safety threat—with 68% viewing the threat as serious. To highlight these concerns, the organization started Drowsy Driving Prevention Week^® to decrease the number of drivers who drive while drowsy—a practice that results in close to 6,000 crashes in the United States every year.

Stay Awake on the Road

According to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration, drowsy driving caused 824 fatalities in 2015. Other research states that sleep loss contributes to 7% of crashes and 16% of deaths. To lower the risk of driving while drowsy—or if you feel drowsy behind the wheel—make sure to:

• Be sure to get 7-8 hours’ sleep a night
• Avoid drugs that cause drowsiness
• Have a more-awake driver step in
• Call a friend or pull off the road to rest
• If far from home, get a hotel room
• Drink beverages with caffeine 

We Can Help

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident that was not your fault, call Graves McLain right away at 918-359-6600. When you call one of our experienced Tulsa, Oklahoma Car Accident Attorneys, we will speak with you for FREE and determine the best course of action.

We review every detail of your situation at no cost to you—and fight hard to protect your rights. Trust our team, we are here to help. At Graves McLain, you will never pay an attorney’s fee upfront—and you owe us nothing until we win your case. At Graves McLain, we don’t get paid until you do.

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