The Threat of Sleepy Drivers in Illinois

November 28, 2012

The Threat of Sleepy Drivers in Illinois

Many of us continue to do it even though we know we should not: driving when drowsy. As distracted driving becomes a major road safety concern in Illinois, so too does drowsy driving. Driving tired slows reaction time, decreases awareness and impairs judgment just like drinking and driving and distracted driving. To prevent accidents and to safeguard others on the road, drivers in Illinois should safely pull over when they become too tired to drive.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, sleepy drivers cause more than 100,000 car accidents every year and more than 1,500 fatalities. While falling asleep behind the wheel may seem rare to the average driver, almost 40 percent of drivers in a NHTSA survey admitted to falling asleep while driving at some point in their lives. Drivers with the highest risk of falling asleep behind the wheel are people who drive a significant number of miles each day, third-shift workers, individuals on medicine with drowsy side-effects and people with unrecognized sleep disorders.

As people age the risk of developing sleep disorders increases, and as many as one-third of all adults will experience insomnia at some point in their lives. Medical conditions and lifestyle choices can influence a person's ability to get a solid night's sleep. Heart conditions and arthritis as well as anxiety and depression can interrupt sleep. So too can the consumption of alcohol or caffeine and exercise close to bed.

While insomnia may be the most common sleep disorder, many people also suffer from sleep apnea, which is a more serious condition. Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder that causes breathing to be repeatedly disrupted over short periods of time. It is caused by a failure of muscles to keep the airway open. Many people with sleep apnea are not aware of it. The condition is usually discovered by a partner who notices snoring or shallow breathing. Daytime symptoms of sleep apnea include fatigue, headache, irritability and sore throat.

Whether a driver suffers from a sleep disorder or a poor night's rest, many tired drivers remain on the road. Common symptoms of driving fatigue include persistent yawning, inability to remember driving the last few miles, drifting between lanes and closing eyes. To stay safe on the road share driving duties with a passenger, stop every two hours to rest, avoid traveling between 12 a.m. and 6 a.m., and safely exit the road when fatigue begins to occur.

If you or a loved one have been in a car accident caused by a fatigued driver, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal options.

Article provided by Ripplinger & Zimmer, L.L.C.
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