Driving while you are fatigued is a dangerous behavior that could result in you falling asleep at the wheel or experiencing delayed reaction times that significantly increase your risk of an accident. Evidence indicates that a person who stays awake too long can start to lose focus and experience other impairments similar to someone who has driven drunk. As a result, a drowsy driver could endanger himself and could put other motorists, pedestrians and motorcyclists at risk.

Unfortunately, many people do drive while they are fatigued because a lot of people aren’t getting enough sleep. Car accident attorneys in Buffalo know that about a third of all American adults are overtired, and about 20 percent of annual car accidents are attributed to drowsy drivers because so many people aren’t well rested. You don’t want to be one of those drivers who is drowsy and who causes a crash, so you should make it a priority to get a good night rest if you find yourself routinely feeling too tired to drive safely.

Tips for Staying Safe from Drowsy Driving Accidents

Avoiding drowsy driving crashes requires you to get enough sleep to stay awake and alert when you are behind the wheel. The Fiscal Times has provided a few key things that you can do in order to get a better night sleep so that you are less likely to become involved in a drowsy driving accident.

To ensure you are getting the best night sleep possible and making the most of the time you do have to get some rest:

• Put your mind in the right mode to rest. One of the worst things that you can do right before you go to bed is use a smartphone, tablet or other electronic device. The bright white light on these devices makes your brain think that it is time to be awake and alert, making it harder to fall asleep.
• Don’t drink or eat things that affect your sleep. If you drink a caffeinated drink within six hours of the time you plan to go to bed, you will have a much harder time falling asleep and may have your sleep disrupted. Both alcohol and spicy foods are also bad for sleep. Alcohol could help you to fall asleep initially, but as it metabolizes in the body, you’re probably going to wake up.
• Exercise in a way that helps you get rest. You should engage in vigorous exercise if you can, since when the body works hard the brain will know that it deserves some rest.  However, don’t exercise too soon before bed or you’ll have a harder time falling asleep.
• Remember that regular bedtimes are for everyone. Going to sleep and getting up at the same time each day helps your body to establish a sleep routine. Don’t mess that routine up by sleeping late or staying up late on the weekend nights. Instead, if you want to rest on the weekends, take short naps throughout the day.
• Consider a sleep study if you need one. A sleep study can help you to identify and solve problems that prevent you from getting rest.

Finally, remember that it is often a bad idea to rely on sleeping pills. New studies show that those who take them only fall asleep about 20 minutes before people who took a placebo pill. Unfortunately, sleeping pills can also leave you feeling groggy and make your morning commute very unsafe if the pills fog your head so you aren’t alert behind the wheel.

Car accident lawyers in Buffalo can help if you’ve been hurt in an accident. Contact the Law Offices of James Morris today for a free consultation. Call 800-477-9044. Attorney advertising.