As the clocks rolled back this weekend past with Daylight Savings Time, New York City car accident lawyer Nicholas Rose knows there were more than a few New Yorkers thrilled to catch an extra hour of sleep. Based on a recent pair of distinct studies sponsored by the AAA Foundation and Univera Health Care, more and more Americans are getting less and less sleep.
As we recognize Drowsy Driving Prevention week this week, please make the dangers of sleepy driving part of the conversation you have with friends and family.
Overall, WBEN-930 AM reports, the average amount of shut-eye a Downstate/New York City resident reports getting is just 6.9 hours per night. The local trend rings true nationally as well. The Univera study found that Americans, on average, sleep 1.5 to 2 fewer hours per night than we did a half-century ago. Doctors recommend that adults sleep 7 to 8 hours per night and teens catch up to 9.25 hours of shut-eye for sleep to be properly restful and restorative.
Medical professionals have long documented the ill-effects of sleep deprivation and a lack of sleep has been linked to obesity, heart disease, stress, memory and cognitive impairment and depression. What the AAA Foundation study found is that it also plays a significant role in machinery-related and motor vehicle accidents. Driver fatigue is now believed to play a role in one in six fatal car accidents and one in eight accidents where occupants require hospitalization.
And, while 85 percent of drivers surveyed said it was “completely unacceptable” to get behind the wheel if a driver feels they can’t keep their eyes open, more than a quarter admitted to doing just that within one month of being polled.
If you work more than 60 hours a week, more than one job, or do shift work, you may be more likely to experience driver fatigue. Also in a higher risk group are students and athletes who work while going to school, young men aged 16-24, and commercial drivers. To spot signs of fatigue and help combat it, the National Sleep Foundation offers a handful of simple tips:
~ SIGNS of FATIGUE: fooling with the radio or radically changing the temperature inside the car; trouble focusing, remembering and impaired judgment; missing your exit or failing to respond appropriately to traffic signals.
~ PREVENTING FATIGUE: most important – get enough sleep (at least six hours), watch for signs of fatigue, and STOP DRIVING if you find yourself nodding off. Even a 20 minute break and a quick dose of caffeine can do wonders for continued short-term travel.
~ Travel with a buddy, avoid alcohol or other drugs, embed intermittent stops every couple hours for a stretch-and-rest break.
As a New York City accident attorney, Nicholas Rose understands that being involved in a traffic accident is often one of the most stressful times in a person’s life. We would like you to know we are available for a free and confidential consultation if you have been injured in pedestrian traffic accident. To schedule an appointment, call us at 1-877-313-ROSE (7673).
