New Report Sounds Wakeup Call on Dangers of Drowsy Driving
Excerpt from an article on truckinginfo.com:
Cullen, David. “New Report Sounds Wakeup Call on Dangers of Drowsy Driving” TruckingInfo.com Web. 09 August 2016.
A report issued Aug. 8 by the Governors Highway Safety Association on the “extreme danger posed by tired drivers” includes a new National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimate that pegs the annual societal cost of fatigue-related fatal and injury crashes at $109 billion— and that does not include property damage.
That’s why, according to GHSA, NHTSA has expanded its definition of impaired driving to include not only drunk, drugged and distracted drivers, but also those who are drowsy behind the wheel.
“Just like drunk driving and seat belts, it’s going to take all of us to get the public to recognize the seriousness of drowsy driving.”
Pam Fischer, Principal, Pam Fischer Consulting
NHTSA states on its website that drowsy driving is a form of impaired driving. “Most people associate impaired driving with alcohol or drugs, but in this situation, sleepiness is the primary cause,” per the agency. “Drowsy driving is not just falling asleep at the wheel. Driver alertness, attention, reaction time, judgment and decision-making are all compromised leading to a greater chance of crashing.”
According to NHTSA’s National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Study, drowsy drivers involved in a crash are twice as likely to make performance errors as compared to drivers who are not fatigued. “In extreme cases, a drowsy driver may fall asleep at the wheel,” the agency said.
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