Take These Steps To Avoid A New Haven Auto Accident When You’re Feeling Drowsy

We’ve all been there. You didn’t get a good night’s sleep last night because the dog was up in the middle of the night having to go out. Maybe you have stress at work that is keeping you awake. Maybe you work the second shift and are still trying to get used to the new schedule. Whatever the story is, you’ve likely been in a situation where you were faced with getting behind the wheel of a car when you were not completely awake and alert enough to drive. This type of drowsy driving can very easily lead to a New Haven auto accident if you’re not careful.

The most important thing you can know about driving drowsy is that it can very easily impact your ability to safely operate your vehicle. In fact, there are some studies that suggest that driving drowsy is the equivalent of driving drunk. If you know you would never drive drunk, you should have the same rule around driving drowsy. Getting behind the wheel when you are not able to open your eyes at the breakfast table is not a good plan of action when you’re trying to avoid getting into an accident. In fact, this behavior is not worth the risk that it presents to you and anyone who may be driving in the car with you.

While we’re not here to give out sleep advice, we are here to talk about how dangerous it can be when you are not sleeping at night and you need to drive the next day. It is also important for you to know what you can do about it so that when you are feeling this way you are not negligently getting on the road because you “have to” make it to your destination on time. Your safety and the safety of others around you is paramount and should trump all other concerns.

Whether you’re headed out in the morning after a difficult night’s sleep or you’re headed home after a long night of being out or being at work, being drowsy when you’re driving is so dangerous and you should do everything you can to prevent incidents from happening as a result of being in this state. There are plenty of things you can do and a couple of them may even surprise you. Here are some steps you can take if you’re feeling drowsy and are behind the wheel of your car.

1.) Avoid coffee or soda. We told you some of these tips may surprise you. What’s the first thing you do when you’re feeling tired or drowsy, especially when you’re behind the wheel of a car? Many of us reach for something to stimulate us and give us a burst of energy like coffee or soda. The problem with this method is that this burst of stimulant that we get from coffee or soda is fleeting and it will not sustain us during a long ride. This temporary boost may fool you into a false sense of security that you may not have for your entire ride and when that happens your drowsiness can sneak back up on you.

2.) Pull over immediately. This may not surprise you, but most safety experts suggest that if you are feeling at all drowsy you should find a safe place to pull over and close your eyes for a period of time. While you may not want to take a full-blown nap you can find a few minutes to close your eyes, give yourself a boost of energy and get back into a situation where you are comfortable getting behind the wheel of the car and getting home. This is especially true on long rides. You should take the extra time you need to pull off the road safely and get the shut eye that you need.

3.) Get some fresh air. If you are pulled over this is a great opportunity to get out into the crisp air that is surrounding you and take a few deep breaths. Fresh air can give you a chance to regroup and wake you up naturally. While this might also be fleeting, you can extend the impact of fresh air by rolling down your windows during your ride so you are consistently feeling the effects of fresh air on your mind and body. This will give you a better chance of keeping your eyes open and focused on the road in front of you.

Ultimately the best thing you can do if you’re feeling drowsy before you get behind the wheel of your car to avoid a New Haven auto accident is to NOT get behind the wheel of your car. No appointment, no meeting, no get together is so important that you can’t take the time to be well rested before you put yourself at risk of getting into an accident. While you may think it is life or death if you don’t make it to your destination at a specific time, if you don’t get there at all that most certainly could be a matter of life and death and it’s not something to play with.

While we never like to think about accidents happening and always want to provide you with the most up to date information on how you can keep yourself and your loved ones safe while driving, we know that accidents do happen. If you are involved in an accident you may need to speak with an experienced attorney about your situation. Contact our office and one of our experienced attorneys will review your situation and work with you to protect your long-term interests.