Although distracted driving and drunk driving remain top factors contributing to Sacramento car accidents, the California Highway Patrol is cracking down on another culprit responsible for significant numbers of automobile accidents and injuries - driving while drowsy (DWD).

According to statistics, driving with drowsy can be as dangerous as driving while under the influence. In fact, studies by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have determined that the motor skills of tired drivers (defined as those drivers who had been awake for 17 hours or more) are similar to drivers with a blood alcohol level (BAC) of 0.05%. Annually, more than 100,000 accidents are caused each year by drivers falling asleep at the wheel. Additionally, DWD accidents are responsible for more than with 71,000 personal injuries and some 1,550 deaths.

If you have been involved in any type of Sacramento car accident, including driver fatigue accidents, distracted driving accidents or drunk driving accidents, it is important to speak to a dedicated Sacramento automobile accident attorney right away. In many situations, it may be possible to recover compensation for your injuries.

In order to raise awareness concerning the impact sleepiness has on driving skills, the CHP has joined forces with the National Sleep Foundation and local police to alert motorists to the perils of driving while drowsy. With the holiday season upon us, it is especially important to be aware of the dangers associated with "drowsy driving." In fact, DWD accidents increase during the holiday season due to the combination of late night/early morning driving to "beat the traffic" and the sleepiness induced by consuming large holiday meals. If you feel like you should take a nap - do! Arriving safely at your destination is far more important than rushing to get somewhere when your reaction times are dulled.

Drowsy driving isn't an isolated problem. According to a survey conducted by the National Sleep Foundation more than half of adult drivers admit to falling asleep at the wheel and 60% confess to driving while drowsy.

CHP officers are on the look out for driver fatigue. Sleepy drivers display many tale tell signs of exhaustion and that they shouldn't be behind the wheel. Erratic driving - speeding up and slowing down - driving unusually slow, driving on the shoulder and drifting into other lanes are a few clues that a driver should not be on the road.

Methods to revive yourself - such as turning up the radio or turning down the temperature - even rolling down a window don't provide lasting relief from fatigue. These stimulation method fail to "rid your brain of the sleep-inducing chemicals that are causing you to nod off."

So what's a drowsy driver to do when he know he has a long trip ahead? A representative of the state Office of Traffic Safety suggests planning stops every few hours so that drivers can take a 15-minute nap or stop to stretch their legs every few hours. In fact, brief naps lasting anywhere from 15- to 30-minutes is often better than an hour or two nap for relieving the imminent dangers from drowsiness.

This holiday weekend, play it safe and do what it takes to avoid drowsy driving. For more information or if you or a loved one has been hurt in any type of Sacramento car accident contact the top Sacramento automobile accident lawyer and personal injury lawyer at Sette Law Office for an immediate consultation.