We all know the dangers of drunk driving, but many drivers underestimate the dangers of driving while tired. What is drowsy driving? The Boulder car accident attorneys at Purvis Thompson, LLP can help you understand what may qualify as drowsy driving and how their choice to drive drowsy may make them liable for your accident. If you have been injured in such an accident, our Boulder injury attorneys may be able to help you recover compensation for your losses.
The criteria for driving while drowsy can seem ambiguous when we try to define them, making responsible driver discretion imperative. According to the NIOSH, through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, driving after being awake for 17 hours is similar to having a BAC of .05%. While long stretches without sleep cause obvious performance changes, prolonged periods of inadequate sleep can have similar effects.
This means that poor sleep quality over several days can leave your driving impaired even if you have slept recently.
Unlike drunk driving, there’s no clear test for determining whether someone is too tired to drive. However, some indicators of driver fatigue can be similar to distracted driving because our brain is unable to adequately focus on the task. Some of these signs of drowsy driving include:
While any driver can be susceptible to drowsy driving, some people are more at risk. These groups often include younger drivers, 2nd- and 3rd-shift workers, and those who travel long distances or drive at night.
In most cases, drowsy driving is considered negligent, and therefore, you may be liable for any resulting accidents. Each driver has a duty to safely operate their vehicle, and that includes ensuring that you are mentally and emotionally fit to drive.
When an accident happens, the police and other investigators may ask how you were feeling at the time of the accident. If there is evidence that you were too tired to drive, such as coming home late from a long work shift, you may find yourself paying for all damages.
There are many things drivers can do to reduce the risk of a drowsy driving accident in Boulder. The first of which is ensuring that you have had adequate quality sleep over the previous days. Try to avoid long trips alone. The California Office of Traffic Safety reports that many sleep-related accidents happen with solo drivers.
Take medication warning labels seriously. If you take a medication that suggests you should not drive or operate machinery or warns that it could make you drowsy, do not drive until you know how it will affect you.
If you are driving alone and find you are too tired to safely stay awake, pull over at a rest stop or safe place and take a 15-20 minute nap, and see how you feel. Remember that caffeine and energy drinks are not a safe long-term solution to staying awake and appropriately focused on the road.