Drowsy driving prevention focuses on "Stay alert, arrive alive." The national sleep foundation is helping to raise awareness of drowsy driving and the risks of driving when you are tired.
When it comes to driving safely, there are lots of factors including: wearing a seat belt, staying focused and alert, driving without being drowsy, using your blinker, checking your blind spot and more.
Did you know that according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration they estimate that over 100,000 police-reported crashes are related to fatigue and drowsiness each year? According to Forbes, around 5,000 people were killed in drowsy driving accidents last year, 2016, alone.
Drowsy driving has been compared to drunk driving and distracted driving. All of which are leading causes of car accidents and deaths, related to motor vehicle accidents. When it comes to being safe, and preventing injuries, including brain injuries, driving when you are not tired is an essential part of the conversation.
According to the CDC, among TBI-related deaths motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause of death for persons 5-24 years of age. Also, motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause of TBI-related hospitalizations for adolescents and persons 15-44 years of age. Car accidents are the third leading cause of TBI and TBI-related deaths. It is important to note that driving safely can have a direct influence on brain injury prevention.
Driving drowsy is no joke. When you drive drowsy you not only put your own life at risk, but the lives of others. Our goal is to help prevent injury and death, including TBI, and TBI-related deaths.
We encourage you to recognize that drowsy driving does not only influence your ability to be safe but also influences the safety of others on the road. Please be safe, drive awake, stay alert, and arrive alive.
