Don’t Sleep and Drive in Tennessee, Folks. It’s Against the Law.
Every now and then, friends of ours (in the legal profession and outside of it) will send us links to bizarre laws that govern the Volunteer State. Some of them are pretty silly – like how you can’t lasso a fish, or you’re not allowed to carry a skunk over state lines into Tennessee (not that we want more skunks). But a couple of the laws, as frivolous as they may first seem, actually make a lot of sense.
One of those laws is that you’re not allowed to sleep while driving. It seems pretty obvious that you shouldn’t “nap and drive,” but the basis of that law is sound. Drowsy drivers are just as dangerous as drunk drivers, and being well-rested before you get into the car could help you avoid a pretty serious accident and injury.
The dangers of sleepy driving
Drowsy driving is enough of a problem that the National Sleep Foundation has designated the first week in November as Drowsy Driving Prevention Week®. The NSL also reports that “The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conservatively estimates that 100,000 police-reported crashes are the direct result of driver fatigue each year. This results in an estimated 1,550 deaths, 71,000 injuries, and $12.5 billion in monetary losses” each year (emphasis ours). Fatigued driving is very dangerous, and it puts everyone at risk.
So what does sleep deprivation lead to?
- • An inability to process information quickly and efficiently. This could cause a driver to miss important signs about roadway conditions, or to forget about those signs quickly.
- • A slower reaction time. Drowsy drivers may not be able to stop a car from hitting another driver, pedestrian or animal that darts out into the street. They may also be less able to navigate turns and curves efficiently and safely.
- • Day-dreaming or inattention. When you’re tired, your mind wanders: it’s as simple as that. Fatigue can cause you to become distracted easily, and to be lulled into a false sense of security when you’re on local roads close to home.
- • An increased susceptibility to road rage. Tired people can be cranky people. Actions by other drivers that normally wouldn’t phase you at all can make you much more aggressive or angry when you’re tired.
We’re a society that’s always on the go, and many of us aren’t getting the right amount of sleep in order to function at our best. When you combine that sleep deprivation with driving, you could be at increased risk of seriously injuring yourself or others.
At the Rocky McElhaney Law Firm, we help people who suffered catastrophic injuries in auto accidents in Nashville and throughout East Tennessee, and we want to help you, too. If you were struck by a drowsy driver, please contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a skilled auto accident attorney. Our Nashville, Hendersonville and Knoxville offices are ready to fight for you.