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Many people focus their attention on the problem of driving drunk through social media campaigns. And while drunk driving is a very important issue, a new online driving campaign against fatigued drivers has been gaining traction.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates fatigued driving is responsible for more than 1.2 million car accidents each year. However, American drivers are largely unaware of this issue. The new #TakeABreakToStayAwake online petition hopes to spread awareness and discourage drowsy driving.
The pledge against drowsy driving mentions how many, particularly younger people, brag about driving while sleep-deprived. However, the campaign was created with the intent of redefining pulling over and taking a break as a point of pride, instead. As of last week, the campaign had more than 12,000 supporters of all ages and occupations who signed the pledge.
Why are Fatigued Drivers Dangerous?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1 out of every 25 drivers has experienced drowsy driving in the last 30 days. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that fatigued driving was responsible for more than 800 nationwide deaths in 2013.
Due to the fact that no one is able to anticipate the exact moment they fall asleep, driving while tired can be extremely dangerous. When drivers are tired, they are less likely to pay attention to the road. And should something happen and the driver needed to brake suddenly or veer suddenly, a fatigued driver would have a much slower reaction time. The quality of decision-making abilities also deteriorates when a driver is fatigued.
If You’re Driving While Tired, “Take a Break to Stay Awake”
If you’re driving and you happen to be yawning, frequently blinking, have difficulty remembering the last few miles you’ve driven and are drifting out of your lane, it may be best to pull over. Whether or not you’ve taken the pledge, taking a break to rest is a better choice when compared to the consequences of drowsy driving. Hopefully this pledge will continue to spread awareness and decrease the number of car accidents caused by fatigued driving.
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Koonz, McKenney, Johnson & DePaolis L.L.P. is a personal injury law firm that helps victims who have been injured in a car accident in Washington, D.C. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/drowsy-driving-pledge_us_570408b9e4b0daf53af12eaa