In the United States, traffic accidents are one of the leading causes of injury and death for adults and children alike. With as much time as we spend in traffic, this perhaps isn’t surprising. Our busy modern lives mean that we’re constantly going from place to place, and sometimes that means driving when we’re not the most fit to do so.

Drowsy driving can lead to accidents just like distraction and drunkenness can. A driver who dozes off in traffic even for a few moments can become involved in a potentially life-changing auto accident.

Car Accident Statistics

Different states have different accident statistics, but no matter the circumstances, accidents can have devastating results. In the United States, as many as 2.35 million people become injured or disabled as a result of road crash accidents. Every year, 37,000 people die, and 1,600 of those people are children age 15 or younger. The United States had, in 2013, a higher crash death rate than the average of other high-income countries—higher than twice the average, in fact. When medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and legal costs start piling up after an accident, it becomes clear why we need to understand and prevent car accidents.

Drowsy Driving by the Numbers

Officially, one to two percent of motor vehicle crashes involve drowsy driving, but the actual number is likely much higher. There’s no reliable way to test drivers for drowsiness at the scene of a crash, and a driver who was drowsy at the time of an accident might be more alert afterward thanks to adrenaline. Drivers might also be reluctant to admit that they were driving while tired, might not realize they were tired, and in serious cases, might not be able to confirm or deny that they were drowsy.

The below infographic, courtesy of Schwartz & Schwartz, P.C. in Boston, MA, offers more insight into the prevalence of drowsiness in car accidents. When combined with factors like age, inexperience, and darkness, drowsiness can contribute to a considerable proportion of car accidents of all severities.

These numbers could be low, considering that drowsiness is hard to officially verify. Its involvement in car accidents of all types makes it clear that it’s something for drivers to consider before getting behind the wheel.

What to Do After an Accident

Regardless of how a car accident happened, you first step is to call 911. If it’s safe to do so, get everyone involved out of danger. Once everyone is safe, take down as much information as you can get for police reports and insurance information. This includes:

• Photographs of the scene and diagrams reconstructing the accident
• The time, date, and location
• Names, insurance information, and driver’s license numbers of the people involved in the accident
• The contact information of everyone involved, including witnesses and passengers
• As many details about the accident as you can remember: what direction the cars were traveling, how fast, what the weather and road were like, how everyone was feeling, and any injuries that result
• When the emergency personnel show up and it’s safe and convenient to do so, take down their towns, names, or other identifying information, and in the case of an ambulance, the company’s name

DriveSafety encourages you to avoid drowsy driving for your safety, everyone else’s safety, and to avoid the expensive and often life-long results of traffic accidents. In addition to getting at least seven hours of sleep a night, follow your local and state traffic laws, be mindful of driving conditions, drive defensively, use seatbelts, and never drink and drive.

Studying Road Safety with DriveSafety

At DriveSafety, we design and manufacture driving simulators for research, training, and clinical use. They’ve been used in studies about vehicle and driver safety as well as in therapeutic and rehabilitation environments for those recovering their driving abilities after injuries or illnesses. We have numerous features that, no matter whether your needs are medical, design and manufacturing, or academic, can work for you. Contact us to learn more about the applications of our products and features.