Although studies show that adults need at least seven hours of sleep every night, a significant number of people in Ontario and other provinces do not allow themselves the time to get enough sleep. When it comes to driving, the studies indicate that even missing one or two hours of the recommended hours doubles the risk of causing car accidents. In fact, researchers say drowsy driving can be compared to drunk driving.
The comparison indicated that a person who slept only four to five hours during the past 24 hours had a crash risk similar to that of a driver whose blood alcohol level is .08 per cent or 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. Those who had less than four hours of sleep were at a similar risk as drivers with blood alcohol levels of .12 to .15. This underscores the dangers of drowsy driving.
There is no reliable way to know how many car accidents are caused by drowsy drivers. However, with the pace at which most people live their lives, it might be fair to say that a significant number of them sleep less than the recommended seven hours per night. From this can be deduced that many drivers risk not only their own lives on the roads but also the lives of their passengers and other road users.
Victims of car accidents in Ontario could pursue financial relief if the negligence of other parties caused the crashes. Regardless of whether it was a drowsy driver or a drunk driver, if negligence can be established there are grounds to sue. This might be a complicated process, which could be simplified with the support and guidance of an experienced personal injury lawyer.
