Latest Blogs

"Drowsy driving is dangerous - just as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs or engaging in social media while driving," says Lee, Collier and Charlotte County Personal Injury Attorney, Randall Spivey of Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.

In the U.S., more than 100,000 crashes each year result in approximately 1,550 deaths and 40,000 injuries, according the NHTSA (the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). One in six deadly crashes involves a drowsy driver, with only one driver in 24 admitting they fell asleep.  The Florida Highway Patrol reports that in 2012 drowsy driving caused more than 1,500 crashes.  These 1,500 crashes resulted in 15 deaths and more than 900 injuries.

Donna Bryan, Director of Marketing of the Safety Council of Palm Beach County, says, "Being awake for 20 hours is comparable to having a blood-alcohol level content of .08 percent. And people with untreated sleep apnea are seven times more likely to fall asleep at the wheel."

Than National Road Safety Foundation recommends direct intervention:

• Recognize and don’t ignore symptoms of drowsiness. Pull over to a safe rest area; stop for a break, a 20-minute nap, or for the night. Two cups of coffee take 30 minutes to enter your bloodstream, then provide short-term alertness.
• Don’t drink alcohol or take medications.
• Drowsiness is a condition most drivers fail to recognize, or believe they can overcome. Without enough sleep the body suffers from “sleep deficit,” which can only be overcome by SLEEP!
• Sleepiness results from physical labor or working long hours; a progressive withdrawal of attention; interruptions of sleep; and untreated or unrecognized sleep disorders. Sleepiness is induced by repetitive actions of long distance drivers, driving without a break and by the stress of tough road conditions and bad weather. Heavy food, alcohol, sedatives, antidepressants and antihistamines induce sleep. Open windows and loud music do not reduce fatigue.

In today's society many people are "sleep deprived".  They may be working one or two jobs to support themselves and their families. Even if they are working only one job, technology makes us a 24/7 working society. Many may feel the only place they can save time is time used for sleeping.

Automobile manufacturers have recognized the sleep deprivation problem and are incorporating driver assistance systems in their automobiles. Mercedes-Benz' Attention Assist will detect whether a driver is demonstrating drowsy behavior such as swerving, irregular use of pedals or indicators, or speed.  According Mercedes, Attention Assist can warn of inattentiveness and drowsiness in an extended speed range and notify drivers of their current state of fatigue and the driving time since the last break, offers adjustable sensitivity and, if a warning is emitted, indicates nearby service areas in the Comand navigation system.

The NHTSA has been aggressively asking all car makers to investigate similar systems for their models as they regard drowsy driving to be an epidemic. As with anti-lock brakes and front and back airbags, drowsy driving alert systems will become mandatory, not options.

"Getting enough sleep before getting behind the wheel of a motor vehicle, and recognizing when it is time to pull over are keys to preventing motor vehicle accidents," says Attorney Spivey.  "In addition to automobile manufacturer installed systems, there are also other devices which may help notify drivers when they are becoming drowsy, and it is time to rest.  Although we do not recommend any one of these, we are listing some of them here for driver consideration."

·         NoNap

·         Cold Diffusion Fatigue Fighter

·         Anti Drowse App for iPhones and Androids

Vehicle Accident Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Civil Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just1percent of Florida attorneys. He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida. For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at  239. 337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839, or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com  for more information. You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.