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I am planning a long road trip, what should I know about drowsy driving?

 

A:

This is a very important question as driving drowsy, (not fully awake), is as dangerous as driving drunk and has been found by the National HighwayTraffic Safety Administration to be the cause of 100,000 crashes each year.

Here is a typical scenario of an accident caused by driving drowsy:

  • Crash occurs late at night/early morning or mid-afternoon (between midnight and 6 am. and between 1 pm and 5 pm)
  • It is a serious accident
  • A single vehicle leaves the roadway
  • Often on high-speed roads
  • There is no attempt to avoid the crash
  • The driver is alone in the vehicle
  • Young male driver age 16 to 29

Here are the best things to do to prevent this happening to you:

1. Drive when alert and rested, after getting a good night's sleep.

2. Avoid alcohol especially when tired - it is a dangerous mix for driving.

3. Avoid driving between midnight and 6 in the morning and beware of the afternoon slump between 1 and 5.

4. If you get drowsy and heavy headed, pull over and take a power nap for 20 minutes, or switch drivers.

5. Have someone keep the driver company while driving during the peak drowsy times of the day.

6. Take breaks every hour or two and stretche your legs.

7. Avoid driving long hours in one day, especially if alone.

Here are some other safety tips for road trips:  5 Simple Things You Can Do To Make Your Holiday Road Trip Safer.  

For more information on drowsy driving: AAA Fondation for Traffic Safety

 




We at the Law Office of Jeffrey Meldon and Associates strongly believe that public education is the first step in the prevention of an accident or in the recovery from one.  

We are experienced personal injury attorneys, trial lawyers, negotiators, litigators and staff that have been proudly working to get accident victims the justice they deserve for over 30 years in Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City, Inverness, and the rest of North Central Florida and North Florida. Accidents involving a car crash, truck wreck, and motorcycle, bicycle, or pedestrian accidents, dog bites, slip and falls and medical malpractice are all included in our practice.

Based on Jeffrey Meldon's, founder of The Law Office of Jeffrey Meldon & Associates, over 30 years of helping accident victims get justice and a fair shake from the insurance companies he has written the consumer guide book, Seven Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Florida Accident Case.  You can request your free, no obligation copy right now, or contact our office for your complimentary copy sent to you today.

Contact the Law Office of Jeffrey Meldon at (800) 373-8000 or (352) 373-8000 immediately if you have been involved in a serious auto, truck or motorcycle accident.  We are in your community, have the experience and resources required to work towards obtaining a fair settlement for you - we are here to help you.

We proudly handle accidents that occur on all roads and in the areas including: I-75, I-10, I-95, U.S. Route 301, U.S. Route 441, State Road 40, State Road 26, State Road 24, Archer Road, Main St, and University Avenue.  Our law firm has  been representing accident victims in Gainesville, Ocala, Lake City, Inverness, Palatka, Crystal River, Daytona Beach, Interlachen, Spring Hill, Dunnellon, Bunnell, Live Oak, Starke, Jasper, Cross City, Perry, Trenton,  Leesberg,  Lake Butler,  Tavares, Chiefland, Bronson, Brooksville, The Villages and the counties of Alachua, Marion, Columbia, Citrus, Volusia, Sumter, Levy, Lake, Bradford, Flagler, Hamilton, Dixie, Gilchrist, Union, Hernando, Suwannee, Union, and Putnam since 1971!