Americans Cannot Overlook Drowsy Driving Anymore

Americans Cannot Overlook Drowsy Driving Anymore

By: Akeem Rizk

Drowsy driving is just as dangerous as intoxicated driving or
texting-while-driving. Drowsy driving is exactly what it sounds like
– the combination of fatigue and operating a vehicle. Some causes
of drowsy driving include intoxication, medications, work schedules,
and sleep disorders. Simply being sleepy can drastically reduce a
driver’s competence behind the wheel. Drivers are less able to pay
attention to the road, react quickly to new situations, and make good
decisions. Americans can make personal and legislative changes to
prevent drowsy driving. It is the responsibility of all Americans to
understand and make an impact on the shocking drowsy driving
epidemic.

Americans need to understand the scope of the drowsy driving epidemic
before policies can be implemented to fix it. The statistics behind
drowsy driving are staggering. 1 in 25 adult drivers has fallen
asleep while driving in the last 30 days according to the CDC. This
only accounts for a one-month period and a longer timeframe adds more
risk to drivers and pedestrians. The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration estimates drowsy driving caused 72,000 crashes and 800
deaths in 2013, with both statistics being severely underestimated.
The number of deaths is lower compared to intoxicated driving, but
this is mainly because intoxication can be identified post-mortem
while drowsiness cannot. Drowsy driving is clearly a problem severely
affecting thousands of Americans, and increased knowledge of it will
allow us to reflect upon our habits and laws.

There is a two-headed approach to combating drowsy driving with a
small portion coming from legislation and the majority coming from
personal responsibility. First, the policies of America need to be
updated on a national basis to reflect the seriousness of drowsy
driving. Currently, New Jersey is the only state in America with a
law specifically criminalizing drowsy driving. This law should be
uniform throughout America, much like a blood alcohol level of 0.08%
or higher signifying intoxication. Besides this, drowsy driving needs
to be solved with recognizing warning signs and using personal
responsibility. The warning signs for drowsy driving are yawning or
blinking frequently, missing exits, and drifting from lanes. When
these signs are seen, it is time to find a safe place to sleep.
However, prevention remains the key. Drivers should sleep at least 7
hours a day and stick to a regular sleep schedule. If a sleep
disorder is suspected, a physician should be consulted. This
two-headed approach of laws and personal responsibility will combat
drowsy driving.

It is unfair to treat drowsy driving as the sleeping giant of
dangerous driving; it is here, and steps need to be taken to prevent
and criminalize it. The already-scary statistics are vastly
underestimated and tell a story of a public-health crisis. With
additional knowledge, Americans can fight drowsy driving with
legislation and personal responsibility. Prevention is the best
strategy for battling drowsy driving but criminalizing it will
provide justice to those unfairly affected by its wrecking-ball path.
All Americans must make a conscious effort to drive while well-rested
and stop this drowsy driving epidemic dead in its tracks.