Have you ever been driving early in the morning or at night and felt tired at the wheel? Or when you were driving on a long road trip? You’re not alone if you answered yes. Most people have felt drowsy at one point or another while driving due to natural fatigue cycles. However, when this happens, it is not safe to drive as serious Florida traffic accidents and injuries can result from drowsy driving.
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) reported that nearly 3,000 wrecks took place in 2011 due to drowsy drivers, which caused 21 deaths and 2,393 injuries. Because of these high numbers, the FDOT wants to remind all drivers that it is unsafe to drive tired, and it is especially dangerous for truck drivers to drive drowsy. When truckers sit behind the wheels of their tractor trailers for long hours at a time, it is easy to start dozing off. In fact, the effects of drowsy driving are very serious and injuries sustained in the resulting accidents can include the following:
- Herniated disc injury
- Tibia fracture
- Femur fracture
- Knee and leg injuries
- Serious neck and back injuries
- Head trauma
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Death
In honor of a little girl from Tallahassee who died when a drowsy cement truck driver crashed into her family car, the state of Florida held its Drowsy Driving Awareness Week in early September to remind truckers and all drivers to not drive while tired.
The Effects of Trucker Fatigue
When a trucker is driving tired, he is at risk for delayed response times, dulled alertness, lack of judgment, and ultimately falling asleep and causing a Sarasota truck crash and injuries. It is important that every driver be aware of symptoms such as trouble focusing, constant yawning, and drifting in and out of lanes; these are signals that he should get off the road. Ignoring trucker fatigue is a dangerous yet sadly common practice among many truckers and trucking companies.
As the state of Florida has just given attention to drowsy driving this year, it is important to remember that the National Drowsy Driving Prevention Week is approaching from November 6 to 12, 2012. This is a great time to talk with others about the effects of drowsy driving and make sure you are aware of your level of alertness while at the wheel.
If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a trucking accident due to a sleep driver, you need to talk with a Sarasota trucking accident attorney at Mallard Perez today at 888-409-3805 for a free, no obligation case consultation.
