How Many Car Accidents are Related to Drowsiness
Drowsy driving accidents are dangerous and potentially deadly. They also may be more common than you think. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Crash Facts and Statistics, there were 2,181 accidents caused by drowsiness in Pennsylvania during 2009. 13 of those crashes were fatal.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that there are about 100,000 accidents caused by fatigue in the United States every year and that those accidents result in an average of 1,550 deaths, 71,000 injuries and more than $12 billion in financial losses. Some groups, such as the National Sleep Foundation, believe that these statistics may be grossly underestimating the problem because there is no test to determine if someone is too sleepy to drive.
What do you think? Is it dangerous to drive while you are tired? Have you done it? Have you been hurt, or have you lost a loved one, because of a drowsy driver? Please leave us a comment and let us know.
