Illinois drivers dozing off behind the wheel pose serious threat
On behalf of of Frederick & Hagle posted in Car Accidents on Friday, January 11, 2013.
Most residents of driving age in Champaign, Illinois, are dependent on motor vehicles for living their lives. Going to school, going to work, going to practice, picking up the kids, getting groceries – most basically, going from point A to point B often happens with the use of a motor vehicle. While cars offer all of us greater mobility and opportunity, it is not without risk. The night news is too often a sobering reminder of this. Drivers throughout Illinois have a responsibility to use their driving privileges in such a manner that keeps all parties on the roads safe.
While this of course means abstaining from getting behind the wheel of a car after drinking alcohol, and obeying traffic laws and speed limits, it also means only operating a vehicle while fully alert. Drowsy driving is more of a risk for a serious car accident than many realize in Illinois. The estimates regarding the percentage of fatal accidents thought to be caused a drowsy driver vary, but it is estimated to be as high as one-third of all fatal crashes across the nation, according to some reports.
With the stresses of life, it can be difficult to always get a full night’s sleep, but those individuals that average less than 6 hours of sleep each night are at an elevated risk for causing a car accident that could result in catastrophic injury or death. A study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 1 in 24 adults admits to falling asleep behind the wheel of their vehicle at least one time within the last month.
Drivers traveling at 60 miles per hour in Champaign cross 88 feet of roadway every second. That means that dozing off behind the wheel, even for just a second, can result in a completely devastating outcome.
Source: The Boston Globe, “CDC: 1 in 24 admit nodding off while driving,” Mike Stobbe, Jan. 3, 2012
