subject: Florida Is The Latest State To Pass A Drowsy Driving Prevention Bill [print this page] Drowsy Driver Awareness Week will mark the start of September in the state of Florida from this year forward. The new law makes Florida the latest state to pass a law requiring education on the dangers of drowsy driving. Locally the bill was known as The RonShay Dugan Act.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that drowsy drivers cause approximately 100,000 automobile crashes a year. The definition of a drowsy driver does however vary from state to state, but every state's definition hinges around the concept of a fatigued driver. A Palm Beach car crash lawyer suggests other words that are commonly used interchangeably for fatigue in traffic settings, including: sleepy, tired, exhausted, and drowsy (the namesake adjective for the law in question).
While the words may be different, their effects remain the same. The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) reports that "sleepiness or fatigue" causes the following:
-Impaired reaction time, judgment and vision
-Problems with information processing and short-term memory
-Decreased performance, vigilance and motivation
-Increased moodiness and aggressive behaviors
Besides the different uses of language to define the act of drowsy driving, states' reporting practices on sleep impaired driving differ as well. Missouri and Wisconsin do not even have specific codes for fatigue or "falling asleep." While a Palm Beach auto accident attorney believes Florida is moving in the right direction with its new law, New Jersey remains the strictest state when it comes to drowsy driving. It is actually a criminal offense to operate a vehicle while sleep impaired in New Jersey.
No one seems to be able agree on how to precisely word the act of drowsy driving, but everyone it seems is capable of doing it. According to The National Sleep Foundation's 2005 Sleep in America poll, 60 per cent of adults have admitted to driving while feeling drowsy in the last year. Even more upsetting is that another 37 per cent admitted to actually falling asleep while driving.
Other startling statistics from an NSF poll, this one conducted in 2002 include:
-Adults between 18-29 are much more likely to drive while drowsy compared to other age groups (71% vs. 30-64, 52% vs. 65+, 19%).
-Men are more likely than women to drive while drowsy (56% vs. 45%) and are almost twice as likely as women to fall asleep while driving (22% vs. 12%).
-Adults with children in the household are more likely to drive drowsy than those without children (59% vs. 45%).
-Shift workers are more likely than those who work a regular daytime schedule to drive to or from work drowsy at least a few days a month (36% vs. 25%).
To combat these destructive behaviors, Palm Beach auto accident attorneys suggest these helpful countermeasures before you hit the road:
-Get adequate sleepmost adults need 7-9 hours to maintain proper alertness during the day
-Schedule proper breaksabout every 100 miles or 2 hours during long trips
-Arrange for a travel companionsomeone to talk with and share the driving
-Avoid alcohol and sedating medicationscheck your labels or ask your doctor
If you do find yourself in a situation where you feel you may be engaging in drowsy driving, a Palm Beach car crash lawyer recommends these courses of action:
-STOP DRIVING! -Take a nap -Drink a caffeinated beverage. -Be aware of rumble strips
The Florida Department of Transportation Secretary, Stephanie C. Kopelousos, is on board with all of these efforts, pledging her support for Drowsy Driving Week. Stephanie Kopelouso had this say in regards to Florida's drowsy driving education, "Our message is very simple: Don't drive drowsy. If you're tired, let someone else take the wheel or get off the road and get some rest. The life you save might be your own."
