411 PAIN Reminds You: Do Not Drive When You're Tired

Everyone knows that drunk driving, speeding and distracted driving (texting especially) are the most common causes of accidents. But most people forget one of the main culprits:
Driving While Tired.

Here are some results from a 2010 AAA survey:

Two out of five drivers (41%) said they had fallen asleep or dozed while behind the wheel.

Drivers 16-24 were more likely to have fallen asleep at the wheel within the past year and drivers 19-29 are more likely of all the age groups to drive while tired.

Men were more likely to report having ever fallen asleep while driving.

Of those who reported falling asleep at the wheel in the past year, over 26% had done so between noon and 5PM, about the same number as those reporting having fallen asleep while driving between midnight and 6AM.

People who sleep six to seven hours a night are twice as likely to be involved in such a crash as those sleeping 8 hours or more, while people sleeping less than 5 hours increased their risk four to five times.

411 pain found that a study by researchers in Australia showed that being awake for 18 hours produced an impairment equal to a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .05, and an impairment equal to a BAC of .10 after 24 hours. (A BAC of .08 is considered legally drunk)

56% of drivers stated that the last occurrence of falling asleep at the wheel occurred on a multi-lane divided highway.

411 Pain would like you to stay safe !
Almost 59% of those having fallen asleep while driving within the past year had been driving for less than an hour before they dozed off compared to almost 21% who had been driving for at least 3 hours.

Of all the people who fell asleep while driving during the past year, 71% had felt awake enough to drive. Only a little under 28% had any idea that they might be too sleepy to drive.

As you can plainly see by these statistics alone, driving while sleepy, drowsy, tired or any other variation is just as dangerous as drunken and distracted driving. In a sense it's as if you ARE drunk and distracted!
The recommended solution is to try to get at least 8 hours of sleep a night.
And if you don't or can't and still need to drive, take a nap before heading out on the road, whether it be where you are, or by pulling off the road. It could save a life!

411 PAIN, the leader in road safety awareness, urges you to not drive while drowsy!

Visit 411 Pain on:
411 Pain's Facebook page

411 Pain

site
Twitter 411 Pain