Who is a drowsy driver?

Everyone has days when they're tired, but to what extent does fatigue compromise a person's ability to drive safely? Unlike drunk driving, there's not a law with a defined limit of sleep impairment in relation to operating a vehicle.

There's also not a conclusive test law enforcement can administer to determine how tired a driver is at the time of a crash. This makes it tricky to classify drowsy driving.

It's recommended that adults get seven–to–nine hours of sleep each night. A study published in the October 2018 edition of the journal Sleep found that fatigue could negatively impact the driving of adults with fewer than seven hours of sleep in a 24-hour period.

Specifically, the study found that drivers who reported:

• Fewer than four hours of sleep in a 24-hour period were 15.1 times more likely to cause car accidents than people who slept the recommended seven–to–nine hours. These odds are similar to a driver who has a blood alcohol concentration of 1.5 times the legal limit.
• Six hours of sleep in a 24-hour period were 1.3 times more likely to cause car accidents than individuals who slept seven–to–nine hours.
• Five hours of sleep in a 24-hour period were 1.9 times more likely to cause car accidents than people who slept seven–to–nine hours.
• Four hours of sleep in a 24-hour period were 2.9 times more likely to cause car accidents than motorists who slept seven–to–nine hours.
• Drivers who changed their sleep or work schedules in the past week were at greater risk of being in accidents.
• People who drove for three hours or longer without a break were at greater risk of being in accidents.

The study doesn't provide a legal definition of drowsy driving, but it does offer useful information about who may be a fatigued motorist.

Was Drowsy Driving a Cause of Your Crash?

At the scene of the crash, you may not know whether someone else’s drowsiness caused the accident, but an experienced car accident lawyer can do a thorough investigation to determine the factors contributing to the crash and how to use them to protect your recovery.

Start a live chat with us now, or call Steven M. Lee, P.C. at your convenience to find out more about your rights and to schedule a free case consultation.

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Who is a drowsy driver?