Drowsy Drivers Rival DUI Drivers-Pose Huge Safety Risk
There was another national story about drivers falling asleep while driving, this one on Good Morning America recently.
Most folks are keenly aware of DUI laws and the severe penalties that can result from a conviction. Organizations like MADD, SADD, et. al. have done a great job in heightening awareness and bringing about much needed change in this area.
What traffic experts know and have been saying for years is that accidents and fatalities due to drowsiness rival those of DUI. I call it Driving while Drowsy-DWD.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recently reported that "fatal highway incidents" are the number one type of fatal workplace event, accounting for 1 in 4 deaths nationally.
Since 2002 thru 2005 there has been a nearly 25% increase in fatal and non fatal crashes to 144,742 and the trend continues upward. 56,000 (not quite 50 %) of these have drowsiness as a factor resulting in 1,550 fatalities.
According to a National Sleep Foundation survey 37% of drivers say they have actually fallen asleep at the wheel and 60% say they have driven while drowsy-DWD. That, my friends, is very scary stuff.
To help combat sleepy driving don't start your trip at night, stop every 100 miles, if you feel drowsy pull over and take a nap, and take turns driving. There is of course another way.
The best device to keep drivers awake if they are drowsy is the 'nap zapper'. It is the simplest and cheapest way to prevent an accident from DWD. You attach it to your ear. When it detects a nodding motion of your head as though you are dozing off an alarm goes off waking you and the occupants of the vehicle.
As Americans compress more work into a work day and spend less time getting the sleep they need DWD is going to be an ongoing and serious problem. DWD or sleep driving
is every bit as serious as an intoxicated driver and maybe more so.
Don't be the next victim of DWD!!
Jack Krohn is the #1 author of home security articles in the country. He owns "Security Solutions" a one stop resource that provides solutions and answers for all your self defense and home security problems.
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Print Article | Download PDF | 19 views | May 16 2008
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