Drowsy Driving Leads to Cedar Rapids Car Crashes

Most people know that driving when they feel sleepy is not a good idea. It is common sense that drivers should not get behind the wheel of a vehicle when they are tired; however, people still do. Some drivers feel they can beat it by talking to passengers or themselves, listening to loud music, or by cracking the window to feel the fresh air against their faces.

If you are one of those people who believe you can keep your eyes open when you feel tired, think again. A new study from AAA shows that drowsy driving leads to serious accidents in Iowa and throughout the nation. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that 41% of drivers in the U.S. have admitted to falling asleep while driving. This number is frightening to think about knowing that this equates to two out of five drivers falling asleep at some point in their life.

The study also found that more than 25% of drivers admitted to having trouble keeping their eyes open while driving during the past month. In addition, one out of ten drivers admitted to falling asleep behind the wheel at least once in the past year.

Iowa drivers that are fatigued, sleepy, tired or drowsy need to realize they are putting themselves and innocent people around them in danger of a Cedar Rapids car crash. Drowsy drivers typically have a slow reaction time, swerve in and out of their lanes, veer off the side of the road, or may crash into other vehicles. These negligent acts by drowsy drivers can lead to serious traffic accidents and injuries.

Peter Kissinger, AAA Foundation President and CEO, said, "When you are behind the wheel of a car, being sleepy is very dangerous. Sleepiness decreases awareness, slows reaction time, and impairs judgment, just like drugs or alcohol, contributing to the possibility of a crash."

The AAA study also found that drivers who were tired increased their chances of being involved in car accidents. Drowsy drivers and accident rates show a direct correlation, according to the statistics below.

  • One in six fatal car crashes involved a drowsy driver.

  • One in eight car wrecks resulting in hospitalization involved a fatigued driver.

  • One in fourteen accidents which involved a drowsy driver required a vehicle to be towed out of the wreck.

Drowsy driving in Iowa and across this nation creates a significant danger to the fatigued driver as well as other people on the roads. This negligent act leads to an increase in car accidents in Iowa. If you have been put in danger due to a drowsy driver, contact a Cedar Rapids car crash attorney at the law offices of Brady Preston Gronlund today. Call (319) 866-9277 and speak with a knowledgeable Iowa car crash lawyer about your legal rights today.