26 Apr Why You Shouldn’t Risk It with Fatigued Driving
Everyone knows that drunk driving is a major problem that claims thousands of lives each year. But did you know that drowsy driving can be just as hazardous as drunk driving? It too costs lives, inflicts countless injuries, and causes property damage that requires extensive collision repairs. Know the risks of fatigued driving before you get behind the wheel.
Drowsy driving kills hundreds of people each year.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), fatigued driving killed at least 795 lives during 2017 alone in the U.S. Some experts believe these statistics are too optimistic and that far more lives are lost each year, given that many drivers aren’t willing to admit that they became drowsy before causing a crash. Each one of those 795 people was someone’s parent, child, sibling, spouse, partner, or friend. Do your part to protect the lives of those around you, and never get behind the wheel if you’re too tired to drive.
Drowsiness is easy to underestimate.
Some drowsy driving accidents are caused by people who fall asleep at the wheel. But many others are caused by people who are only mildly to moderately tired. Sleepiness will inhibit your ability to drive safely even if you don’t fall asleep. It adversely affects your attention, reaction time, and judgment.
You can prevent fatigued driving.
Whenever possible, try to avoid driving late at night. People tend to be sleepiest between midnight and six a.m. If you must drive late at night or early in the morning, be careful to monitor yourself for signs of excessive sleepiness, such as drifting in the lane, yawning, and having trouble with short-term memory. Pull over right away if your ability to drive safely has become impaired.
No matter how carefully you drive, you can’t control the actions of other people on the road. After an accident, you can take your car to National Auto Collision Centers in Tucson for prompt and expertly performed collision repairs. Give us a call at (520) 623-4959 if you have any questions about our auto repair services.