Certain risk factors have a direct correlation with increased collision risk. Falling asleep at the wheel is obviously a very dangerous experience. People who are unconscious may go off the road or may swerve into oncoming traffic. They are at risk of causing severe head-on collisions or other types of crashes as other drivers try to avoid them on the road.
Although many motorists might assume that falling asleep at the wheel is uncommon, it is actually a relatively widespread safety issue. Many drivers occasionally fall asleep while driving.
Self-reported data shows an alarming trend
When researchers ask people to admit that they did something unsafe or illegal, bias affects the outcome. Many people worry about facing consequences or even judgment from others. As such, it is common for people to underreport bad behavior when asked to voluntarily provide information about their conduct.
That information makes the rate of drivers falling asleep at the wheel particularly frightening. One in 25 drivers, or approximately 4% of motorists, admit to falling asleep at the wheel at least one time in the 30 days leading up to their survey.
While 4% is obviously a small minority, it is a large enough percentage to represent a very dangerous trend. Motorists who don’t get enough sleep may doze off for just long enough to put themselves and everyone else at risk of a catastrophic collision.
People can’t prevent others from making unsafe choices in traffic, but they can decide to respond assertively when injurious incidents occur. Filing an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit is an appropriate reaction from those hurt in a car crash caused by a driver who fell asleep at the wheel.
