There are so many serious car accidents resulting from drunk driving and distracted driving that it's easy to forget that, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly one of every six fatal car accidents involve drowsy driving. Similarly, lack of sleep contributes to one of every seven accidents that send surviving victims to the hospital. Even when injuries are less serious, one of every 14 passenger vehicles towed after an accident involve a drowsy driver.

These statistics are even more troubling compared with AAA Foundation findings that almost all drivers acknowledge knowing the danger of drowsy driving, yet one-fourth of them acknowledge driving while having difficulty keeping their eyes open during a prior month. The same study finds that almost one in five drivers do this repeatedly. While few do it often, one time falling asleep at the wheel is all it takes to leave someone permanently debilitated or dead.

Driving while drowsy is just as serious as driving drunk or driving while texting, yet state laws have not kept up with this negligent behavior's threat. In most states, drowsy drivers are not likely to face aggravated charges for falling asleep at the wheel. Law enforcement often has to charge such drivers with careless driving, or with failing to stay in designated lanes.

The National Sleep Foundation hopes that designating this week Drowsy Driver Prevention Week will help raise awareness of this public safety menace. Perhaps this will encourage laws more attentive to the problem. Until then, it leaves many victims of drowsy drivers with civil courts as their only recourse for compensation for injuries and loss resulting from such irresponsible behavior.

Source: The Times Herald, "National Sleep Foundation raises awareness about traffic safety with Drowsy Driving Prevention Week 2011," Keith Phucas, Nov. 6, 2011