If you have lost a loved one to a drowsy driver, then you know how serious this issue is. Drowsy driving takes around 1,500 lives annually.
Did you know that a shocking 40% of drivers have admitted to falling asleep while driving at least once in their lives? Thinking about that fact, it’s reasonable to assume that many unnecessary accidents occur just because a driver hasn’t gotten enough sleep, has a medical condition impacting their alertness or is drowsy for other reasons.
Drowsy driving made an impact in 2020
In 2020, a study was performed to ask around 2,000 Americans if they would drive at night and if they had any hesitations about driving at night. Most of the people who responded admitted that they did have some hesitancy against driving at night because:
- Poor night vision could cause a collision
- Drowsy drivers could make it dangerous to be on the roads
- It’s harder to see pedestrians
The survey revealed that 52% of Americans did not feel comfortable driving on their own at night.
In 2019, another survey had been performed to determine how common drowsy driving really is in America. After looking at the answers from around 2,000 respondents, it was found that:
- Those 65 years of age or older did believe that being tired or drowsy made you a more dangerous driver (39% of respondents)
- 5% of respondents over the age of 65 admitted to falling asleep behind the wheel at least once in their lives
- Those between the ages of 18 and 24 were the most likely to think drowsy driving is more dangerous than drunk driving
- 6% of those who responded admitted that being tired meant it wasn’t safe to drive
The survey found that 42.6% of people claimed never to have fallen asleep behind the wheel. 27.3% of all respondents admitted to falling asleep behind the wheel at one time or another.
Losing a loved one from a crash with a drowsy driver is devastating for all who are involved. If you lose someone because they are hit by another party who was drowsy or who fell asleep, you can seek compensation against them. It is your right to hold those responsible for your loved one’s wrongful death accountable for their actions.