Drowsy Driving is Dangerous and is a Factor in 20% of Car Accidents

January 30, 2020, Kitchener, Ontario

Posted by: Robert Deutschmann, Personal Injury Lawyer

Sleeping at the Wheel in 2019

Many of us have been in a driving situation when we feel tired and know that we are in danger of nodding off behind the wheel. Most of the time we have the sense to pull over and take a break, switch drivers or stop driving for the day. I’ve often seen people sleeping in roadside rest areas mid afternoon, clearly taking a break from the road.

Statistics for Ontario from 2018 indicate that 60% of us admit to driving when tired, and one third of drivers have fallen asleep behind the wheel at some point in the driving career. Drowsy driving is as dangerous as impaired driving. It is estimated that approximately 20% of all collisions involve driver fatigues.

Drowsy driving:

• Slows reaction times
• Alters decision making
• Impairs your ability to focus
• Impairs your co-ordination
• It slows your motor skills
• It alters your depth perception

An article published in December’s Business Insider was cause for real concern. It features Tesla drivers filmed sleeping behind the wheel of their cars as the cars travel down the highway. This has been a hot topic in the news, and the videos have made the rounds on social media sites. Tesla autopilot mode is intended to be used with the driver alert and holding the wheel of the car. The reality seems different. The idea of someone sound asleep behind the wheel of a car barrelling down the highway, or driving city streets is terrifying.

Drowsy driving safety tips:

• Take a break from driving. Pull over at the next rest stop, get out of the car, walk around, stretch and re-focus.
• If you are alone and tired pull over at a rest area and have a short nap.
• Switch drivers and let the driver taking a break sleep if they want to.
• Get a coffee or other caffeinated drink
• Keep your car temperature on the cool side. Carry a blanket for passengers if they complain about being hot.

About Deutschmann Law

Deutschmann Law serves South-Western Ontario with offices in Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Woodstock, Brantford, Stratford and Ayr. The law practice of Robert Deutschmann focuses almost exclusively in personal injury and disability insurance matters. For more information, please visit www.deutschmannlaw.com or call us at 1-519-742-7774.

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