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Many people know about the dangers of driving while intoxicated or driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. But as your Fort Myers personal injury lawyer will tell you, there is something else that poses a danger to motorists traveling on Florida roadways--drowsy driving. Statistics have shown that driving without getting a sufficient amount of sleep can be just as dangerous as drunk driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has estimated that drowsy motorists cause about 100,000 accidents on a yearly basis, 1,500 of which end in death, while 71,000 end in injury.

Personal injury lawyer Randall Spivey knows that Florida has "special laws in place to help the victims of drunk driving accidents." But what about those individuals who have been hurt by someone who was "driving while drowsy?" We live in a time where people are constantly facing heavy demands when it comes to families and jobs, and in those cases, sleep is often considered to be a "luxury" for those who need more hours in the day to complete their tasks. However, not allowing the body to get good quality sleep and rest can lead to tragic consequences.

Studies have been done that show that if an individual goes 18 hours with no sleep and/or rest, he or she could have the same level of impairment as someone who has a blood alcohol level of .08 percent (which is the legal limit of intoxication across the country).  However, your Fort Myers personal injury lawyer knows that unfortunately, unlike with drunk drivers, there is no way for law enforcement officers to test for drowsy driving. So, what can be done about drowsy driving?

Florida's Drowsy Driving Prevention Week

Without question, drowsiness or sleepiness slows a driver's reaction time, hampers his or her judgment, lowers awareness and increases the risk of him or her colliding with another motor vehicle. Given the seriousness of the issue, Florida lawmakers have selected the first week of September each year to be "Drowsy Driving Prevention Week," during which time the Florida Department of Transportation and the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles join forces with other safety advocates to get the message out regarding the dangers of driving while drowsy.

The District 8 representative who sponsored the bill that designated the week did so in memory of an 8-year-old child who was killed back in 2008 when a cement truck driver fell asleep at the wheel and collided into the bus on which the child was riding. The representative noted, "Drowsy driving can be just as dangerous as drunk driving. We must do all we can to raise awareness of the dangers of driving drowsy to help save lives."

Knowing the Risks

Although there is no way to test in order to quantify one's level of sleepiness at an accident site, there are certain risks associated with drivers who have been involved in drowsy driving collisions, some of which include sleep deprivation, undiagnosed and/or untreated sleep disorders, the use of sedating medicines and alcohol consumption.

If you or a loved one has been affected by a drowsy driver and you would like to learn more about your rights under the law, contact a Fort Myers personal injury lawyer at the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P. A. as soon as possible.