The Towson victims’ rights attorneys at Azrael, Franz, Schwab and Lipowitz (AFSL) discuss the dangerous effects of drowsy driving.

Many people are concerned about sharing the road with drunk drivers, and for good reason. There are many hazards of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

But what about driving under the influence of drowsiness?

Many are unaware that drowsiness is a form of distracted and negligent driving, and that it can be considered just as dangerous as drunk or drugged driving.

According to a recent study completed by Australian researchers, driving under the influence of drowsiness may be equally, if not more dangerous than driving under the influence of alcohol. The study showed that 24 hours of sleep deprivation was equivalent to a blood alcohol concentration of .10 in its effect on the driver’s level of impairment.

Drowsy driving can affect driving in ways very similar to drunk driving, including impaired coordination, delayed reaction times and poor judgment, as well as causing lapses in attention. As a result, it is often an underlying cause of many automobile accidents and personal injuries.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that drowsy driving is to blame for at least 16.5% of fatal crashes and 12.5% of crashes involving a severe personal injury. Drowsy drivers cause approximately 100,000 automobile accidents, 1,550 deaths and over 40,000 personal injuries each year.

The prevalence of drowsy driving is shocking. As many as 60% of people have admitted to driving while drowsy according to a recent AAA Foundation survey. The survey also found that another 41% of respondents actually admitted to falling asleep at the wheel at least once.

Victims of negligent or drowsy driving may be entitled to receive compensation for their personal injuries. Contact the attorneys at Azrael Franz Schwab Lipowitz for more information about personal injuries resulting from fatigued drivers.