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At a certain point, drowsy driving is like drunk driving

On Behalf of | Feb 1, 2019 | Car Accidents |

Although some unfortunately do take the risk, many people in Blacksburg, Virginia, would never dream of getting behind the wheel while drunk, or even if they suspected that they might be drunk.

However, if one trusts the results of a recent study, these very same people may be more than willing to get behind the wheel when they have had inadequate sleep or are otherwise just too tired to drive.

According to this study, one out three drivers who were asked said that, within the previous month, they had driven while finding it hard to stay awake, which is clearly a dangerous move.

After all, experts say that at a certain point, one’s body is so tired that the person will start to show the same slowness of judgment and coordination as would someone who is legally drunk.

Specifically, experts estimate that a person going on no sleep for over 24 hours will drive in the same manner as a person with .10 blood alcohol content. As many recognize, the latter of the two people would face the possibility of a criminal drunk driving charge.

Moreover, some suggest that drugs are directly involved with the nation’s ongoing drowsy driving problem. Many people use medicinal sleep aids that often come with instructions that people are not to be driving or doing other potentially hazardous activities until several hours after taking the medication.

When people choose to take the medicine but not go to bed for the night, they will likely experience compounded problems with drowsiness should they attempt to drive.

In any event, fatigued drivers are hazards on Virginia’s roads. If they cause car accidents, their victims may be able to seek compensation by filing a personal injury lawsuit.

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