Spotting the signs of drowsy driving

Plenty of information is out there warning of the consequences that can come from driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, so much so that you might think no one in Moncks Corner would even dare to attempt it. While this proliferation of information likely has had an impact in reducing the number of drunk drivers on the road, that does not mean that you and others are not at risk of becoming subject to other types of dangerous driving activities. As many of those that our team here at George B. Bishop, Jr. P.A. has worked with in the past can attest to, drowsy drivers can be just as dangerous as those who are drunk.

Fatigue inhibits a person’s response times much in the same way that alcohol does. Indeed, information shared by the National Sleep Foundation shows that a person who has been awake for 24 consecutive hours can exhibit physical impairments to the same degree as one who has a blood-alcohol content of .10 (which is well above the legal limit). The trouble is that many do no understand this, which is why few might think twice before jumping behind the wheel while drowsy.

The trouble is how can you tell if the driver that hit you was drowsy at the time. Obvious signs may be present (such as bloodshot eyes), yet often you are left to rely on more subtle cues. Accidents that occur in the late night or early morning hours are more likely to have been caused by drowsiness. If the driver indicated that they work odd hours (such as a graveyard shift), that also may imply that they could have been fatigued.

More information on determining the cause of your car accident can be found throughout the pages of our site.