Tired drivers who fall asleep at the wheel often cause serious and fatal car accidents. That’s why the findings of a recent study are so startling – one out of 25 drivers admitted to falling asleep at the wheel within the last month.
While drowsy driving might not seem like a big deal to some people, tired drivers put everyone on the road at risk. So, what makes fatigued driving so dangerous? How bad is the problem in Colorado and nationwide? And how can a car accident attorney help if you were hit and injured by a tired driver? The Longo Firm, LLC explains what drivers in Colorado need to know.
Too many drivers admit to falling asleep at the wheel
The National Safety Council (NSC) recently reported on a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about how often drivers fall asleep at the wheel. According to the CDC, nearly 5 percent (1 out of 25) of drivers who participated in the survey admitted to falling asleep while driving within the past month.
The CDC also reported on when drivers are most at risk of being hit by a driver asleep at the wheel. The most dangerous time of day is 4 to 6 am, followed by 2 to 4 am and midnight to 2 am.
Why tired drivers are a serious risk on the road
Research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety reveals that drivers who get only 6 to 7 hours of sleep are twice as likely to cause an accident, and drivers with 5 hours or less are four to five times more likely to crash. Here are key reasons why tired drivers are so dangerous:
- Slower Reaction Times: Fatigue delays reaction time, making it harder for drivers to respond quickly to sudden changes in traffic, such as a car braking ahead or a pedestrian crossing. A slower response can turn minor incidents into serious accidents.
- Momentary Eye Closures ("Microsleeps"): Tired drivers can experience brief episodes of “microsleep,” where their eyes close for a few seconds without them even realizing it. At highway speeds, this means a driver could travel hundreds of yards without seeing the road, dramatically increasing the risk of a serious or deadly collision.
- Drifting Out of Lane: Fatigued drivers often struggle to stay in their lanes, drifting across lines or into oncoming traffic. This lack of lane control is particularly dangerous on two-lane roads, where it can lead to devastating head-on collisions.
- Failure to Brake: Drivers who are dozing off may not hit the brakes or slow down before a crash, causing high-speed collisions that result in more severe injuries. In many cases, these accidents involve rear-end collisions where the fatigued driver fails to notice slowing or stopped traffic.
- Poor Judgment and Decision-Making: Fatigue impairs judgment, leading drivers to make risky or irrational decisions, such as speeding, tailgating, or not adjusting to hazardous road conditions. Drowsy drivers are also more likely to underestimate distances and misjudge gaps in traffic.
- Reduced Awareness of Surroundings: Tired drivers are less alert to what’s happening around them, making it easy to miss important road signs, signals, and other vehicles. This reduced awareness can be critical when merging or making turns.
- Impaired Coordination: Fatigue can make it difficult for drivers to handle basic maneuvers like steering, braking, or using turn signals effectively. This lack of control can contribute to serious accidents, especially in heavy traffic.
Similarities between drowsy driving and drunk driving
To put into perspective just how dangerous drowsy driving can be, a scientific study compared tired drivers to drunk drivers to show the similarities.
Drunk drivers have slower reaction times and worse hand-eye coordination. As a result, impaired drivers are more likely to cause a collision because they don’t have enough time to react to other vehicles.
The same is true for tired drivers. According to the NSC, drivers who have been up for 18 hours straight have reaction times similar to someone with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.05 percent.
Drivers up for 20 hours straight have even slower reaction times, similar to someone with a BAC of 0.08 percent, which is the legal limit for drunk driving in most states. When drivers are awake for 24 hours straight, their reaction times are similar to drivers with a BAC of 0.1 percent.
Tired driving, like drunk driving, is entirely preventable. Drivers can avoid these dangers by resting before getting behind the wheel, taking breaks during long trips, or choosing alternatives like rideshares or public transportation when fatigued. Making responsible choices can help prevent drowsy driving accidents and keep everyone on the road safer.
How common is drowsy driving nationwide?
The numbers are staggering – drowsy driving is a huge problem nationwide. Every year, drowsy drivers cause an estimated 328,000 car accidents nationwide, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Those accidents result in an estimated 109,000 injuries and 6,400 fatalities each year on average.
But what’s even more alarming is those numbers could be even higher since accidents caused by tired drivers are often underreported, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. In addition, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that accidents caused by tired drivers cost the country $109 billion each year in medical bills, lost wages, and other financial losses.
Is tired driving a problem in Colorado?
According to a recent study by the NHTSA, Colorado has the second-highest fatality rate of any state in the country when it comes to fatal drowsy driving accidents. Specifically, 4.55 percent of all fatal car accidents in Colorado between 2018 and 2022 involved drowsy drivers or drivers who fell asleep at the wheel. Only Wyoming had more drowsy driving accidents than Colorado during that time period.
Injured by a tired driver? Contact a car accident lawyer.
At The Longo Firm, LLC, we're committed to protecting the rights of injured crash victims in Colorado Springs and throughout Colorado. We know what evidence to look for, how to deal with insurance companies who want to pay you less than what you deserve, and what it takes to win. Our case results prove it, including a $3.85 million recovery for an accident claim involving a head injury.
Injured in a crash that wasn't your fault? Get a Colorado Springs car accident lawyer who puts your best interests first. Contact us today to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation.