Many drivers share the roads in Tennessee. Cars range in size, drivers range in age and experience. Sometimes, drivers also range in levels of sleep deprivation.
Today we will look at drowsy driving. This problem creates havoc for many drivers on the road together. Everyone should treat this problem as a serious threat. Unfortunately, that is not always the case.
How do people view drowsy driving?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention look into the risks of drowsy driving. One of the biggest risks deals with the way drivers view drowsy driving. The public agrees that drunk driving is dangerous. It also often agrees that texting while driving is dangerous. People still indulge in both behaviors, but most frown on it and the people who do it.
This is not the case for drowsy driving. People’s schedules are often packed. Some consider it an inevitability that they must go to work without getting enough sleep. Some even pride themselves on how little sleep they get. If someone admits they drove while exhausted, others often do not judge them for it.
The impact of drowsy driving in crashes
Because people accept drowsy driving, it is a widespread bad driving habit. Plenty of drivers do not get enough sleep. They see that so many others are doing it and not crashing. They think they will be able to avoid all dangers, too. This is not always the case. Drowsy driving caused 72,000 crashes in 2013 alone.
Experts suggest we treat drowsy driving like other dangerous driving behaviors. In doing so, we may cut these risks. Until that day, the risk of drowsy drivers still remains.
