Driving Drowsy in South Florida : Why Sleep Deprived Driving Can Be as Bad as Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol
Anyone who says they haven't struggled to stay awake and alert while driving at some point in their lives probably isn't being entirely truthful. That's what coffee shops and rest stops along Florida highways are made for, right? Many if not most drivers have had the uncomfortable experience of driving while drowsy, downing the black coffee and rolling down the windows to stay alert on the road. Home -- and bed -- can't come soon enough.
Sleep deprived driving, can, in fact, be as dangerous as drunk driving, research studies show. The results of a British sleep study were described by CNN in 2000. The research showed that drivers who get behind the wheel after being awake for 17 to 19 hours performed worse than those with a blood alcohol level of .05 percent.
The study estimated that anywhere between 16 and 60 percent of traffic crashes may involve sleep deprived drivers. Drivers who have not had enough sleep can experience compromised motor skills, anxiety, and are more apt to make poor judgments and take unnecessary risks on the roads and highways.
People who drive long hours and long distances as part of their work, such as commercial truck drivers, are at risk of being in truck accidents due to sleep deprivation. The British study suggested that countries put sleep deprived driving laws in effect similar to the drunk driving laws we have here in Florida and the US. The study also found that emergency workers and people who work the night shift are also at risk for being in traffic accidents due to lack of sleep.
As a Fort Lauderdale truck accident injury lawyer knows from experience -- it's dangerous enough driving South Florida's congested highways, city streets, and back roads. Staying awake, alert, and sober is part of defensive driving, in the Sunshine State and across the US. Tractor trailer truck accidents on Florida interstates and roadways can be catastrophic, due to the sheer size of the vehicles. Driver judgment and performance are on the line, at all times -- for their own safety and that of the Fla. motorists sharing the roads with their large trucks.
Sleep experts and safety advocates have also suggested that truck drivers who suffer from sleep apnea (a breathing disorder that occurs during sleep, sometimes found in overweight people) may not be getting a good enough night's sleep to safely drive during the day. MSNBC reported that commercial truck accidents kill more than 5,200 people and injure more than 100,000 each year in the U.S.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has begun to look at the issue of sleep apnea and truck drivers, urging drivers to get tested by their doctors. The FMCSA sets regulations for how many hours commercial motor vehicle drivers may drive before taking a break; for example those hauling property (not persons) may drive a maximum of 11 hours following 10 consecutive hours off duty.
Sources:
Heavy, drowsy truckers pose risk on the road
MSNBC.com June 14, 2009
Sleep deprivation as bad as alcohol impairment, study suggests
CNN Health Sept. 20, 2000
Related Web Resources:
U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration:
