Motorists cutting z's behind the wheel -- even for just a split second -- claim numerous lives each year, as an estimated 5 million Americans drive while drowsy at least once a month (based on a National Sleep Foundation poll).
What does this have to do with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs? A Chicago DUI attorney probably won't be able to help you beat a reckless driving charge if your drug of choice is sleep-deprivation, but drowsy driving is not all that different from drunk driving.
A person who has been awake for 18 hours is just as impaired as a motorist with a blood alcohol level of between .05 percent and .10 percent, according to many researchers. But it's not clear if that also applies to someone who received a generous eight to 10 hours of sleep the night before or maintained alertness throughout day from regular trips to the local coffee shop.
All it takes is a second or two of unintentional shut-eye to plummet off a cliff or slam head-first into a semi. Many of us can relate to the frightening phenomenon of actually falling asleep for a split-second only to "wake up" and realize you're behind the wheel of an automobile.
It's not driving under the influence, per se, but it's just as irresponsible. Sleepy or fatigued driving accounts for about 100,000 accidents in the US each year -- resulting in 71,000 injuries and 1,500 deaths -- according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Adminisration.
Some say state law, however, still has some catching up to do.
In its most recent report (PDF) on drowsy driving, the National Sleep Foundation gave Illinois a "C" grade for how law enforcement deals with drowsy drivers. On a positive note, at least from the organization's perspective, Illinois state law provides a police code for sleepy or fatigued driving. But the state was frowned upon for not including drowsy driving information in driver education curricula.
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Comprehensive information and tips regarding drowsy driving (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)
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Drowsy Driving Prevention Week toolkit (National Sleep Foundation)
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Detection and prevention tips (National Sleep Foundation)
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