Warnings Signs You’re Falling Asleep At The Wheel

Falling asleep at the wheel has become a common cause of motor vehicle accidents across the country. In Pennsylvania, which is 283 miles long from east to west, long, open, roads dot the landscape, which by their quiet isolation are often conducive to drowsiness while driving. People  may assume most of these accidents involve drivers of tractor-trailer semi-trucks falling asleep at the wheel. The typical notion is that truck drivers stay awake as long as possible to ensure the timely delivery of their cargo. This remains true. Time is money.

In recent years, a different demographic of drivers has emerged in accidents resulting from drivers falling asleep at the wheel. A study found that 18-20 year-olds were involved in five times more fatigue-related accidents and near-accidents than any other group. The study attributed this to a lack of driving experience combined with irregular sleep patterns. The bottom line is that truck drivers are not the only drivers at risk to fall asleep at the wheel while driving.

Here are some warning signs that you may be falling asleep at the wheel:

• Difficulty focusing on the road.
• Failing to keep your eyes open and your head up.
• Repeatedly yawning or shifting in your seat.
• Tailgating or missing traffic signs and signals.
• Having to avoid collisions with other cars or other roadside objects.
• Forgetting the last few miles driven.
• Hitting a rumble strip or drifting from the traffic lane.
• Continuously pulling your vehicle back into the traffic lane.
• Daydreaming and finding yourself not paying attention.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, approximately 100,000 car accidents each year are a direct result of drivers falling asleep at the wheel. Further, 1,500 deaths and over 70,000 injuries annually are attributed to falling asleep while driving. According to a study of 1,024 drivers by Farmer’s Insurance, more than 10% of drivers admitted to having fallen asleep at the wheel, while more than 20 percent say that they have momentarily dozed off while driving.

The following are some ways to avoid falling asleep at the wheel:

• Get a good night’s sleep;
• If driving with passengers, make sure they interact with you and keep you awake;
• Stay well hydrated and don’t depend on coffee and caffeine to get you to your destination;
• Stop every 100 miles;
• Don’t take medications with diphenhydramine that may significantly increase drowsiness.

It is not always easy to detect overly fatigued driving. Thus, impaired driving is often mistaken as drunk driving. Many drivers have been stopped by police who suspect drunk driving, but instead find drivers that are simply drowsy. Driving while fatigued has become a serious problem on our nation’s highways. Using the tips mentioned above will minimize its potentially negative effects of tired driving.

Keep yourself and loved ones safe by preventing accidents caused by fatigue and falling asleep at the wheel. If you or a loved one has suffered any type of injury resulting from a motor vehicle accident, contact Powell Law at (570) 961-0777. The consultation is FREE and you don’t pay anything unless we win. Our attorneys, past and present, have represented motor vehicle accident victims for 110 years.