California’s Marin Independent Journal reports that the CHP has launched a new campaign to crack down on driver drowsiness. While drunk driving and driver distraction remain top causes of automobile accidents, the National Highway traffic Safety Administration reports that driving while sleepy is nearly as risky. In order to raise awareness the CHP is holding a week-long campaign along with the National Sleep Foundation and local police to alert motorists of the dangers. Problems with “drowsy driving” worsen during the holiday season – especially as drivers may leave early in the morning or late at night to try to avoid high traffic times.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Elk Grove car accident, caused by driver drowsiness or any other reason, it’s important to consult with a top Elk Grove personal injury attorney right away.

Studies by NHTSA found that the motor skills of those drivers who had been awake for 17 hours or more were affected as much as those with a blood alcohol level of 0.05 percent. Further, falling asleep while driving contributes to more than 100,000 accidents each year, with 71,000 injures and some 1,550 deaths.

A survey conducted by the National Sleep Foundation reveals just how widespread a problem “drowsy driving” has become – 60% of adults drivers admit driving while sleeping and more than one-third have actually fallen asleep at the wheel.

Drowsy drivers display many tale tell signs that traffic officers look for to determine if someone is dozing off and shouldn’t be behind the wheel. These include actions such as driving unusually slow, drifting into another lane, impeding traffic or driving on the shoulder. Speeding up and slowing down, as well as straddling lanes are clues on the freeway that a driver is drowsy.

While many drivers roll down a window or turn up the radio these methods only provide brief stimulation and don’t address the real problem of fatigue, “It doesn’t help rid your brain of the sleep-inducing chemicals that are causing you to nod off.”

A representative of the state Office of Traffic Safety provides the following suggestions to help keep yourself awake: “Plan stops so (you) can take a 15-minute nap or stop to stretch their legs every few hours … a 15- to 30-minute nap is often better than an hour or two nap. The short nap changes the brain chemistry just enough to ward off the drowsiness for a couple of hours, whereas the longer nap can put you into a lethargy that takes time to wear off, if at all.”

Hopefully with increased awareness the number of fatigued induced car accidents on California’s roadways will lessen.

For more information or if you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident contact the top Elk Grove automobile accident lawyer and personal injury lawyer at Sette Law Office for an immediate consultation.