Drowsy Driving Is As Bad As Drunk Driving

California drivers who get behind the wheel of a car when they are drowsy may be every bit as harmful as drunk drivers. The accidents that they cause are every bit as likely to be fatal. This problem does not get nearly as much attention as the drunk driving epidemic, although the dangers can be the same.

Many people do not know that driving a car when going without sleep for 20 hours or more is the same as driving with a .08 blood alcohol level. The crashes can be just as deadly as drivers are not able to do anything to avoid a crash when they are drowsy. In 2015, over 5,000 people died in crashes that were caused by drowsy driving.

Driving while fatigued keeps motorists from using their reflexes to avoid accidents. They are less able to perceive hazards and their reaction times decrease if they are even able to use their reactions at all. There is some help in this area that is one the way such as vehicle technologies that alert drivers when they are drifting and that can take control of a car. However, these are not a substitute for drivers exercising proper judgment and only getting behind the wheel when they have gotten a safe and proper amount of sleep.

Those who have been injured in an accident with a driver who was operating a car while drowsy may have civil remedies against that driver who caused the crash. The motorist responsible for an accident can be made to pay financially for their negligence. People who have been injured in these motor vehicle accidents should contact a personal injury attorney to learn of their legal options and the process that they would need to follow in order to receive compensation for their injuries.