Story Highlights:
Date: November 8, 2011, 11/8/2011
Location: Colton, Whitman County, Washington
Type:
Car accidentOutcome: One injured
One person was injured in a collision near Colton early Tuesday morning.Around 7 a.m. a 60-year-old woman was driving southbound on State Route 195 when she fell asleep at the wheel and her van drifted from the road, crashing into a ditch and then striking a culvert.
The impact sent the driver through the windshield and she landed in a creek. She was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the collision
She was taken to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in critical condition.
Falling Asleep at the Wheel Statistics
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that approximately 100,000 police-reported crashes annually involve drowsiness and/or fatigue as a principal causal factor. Those crashes result in an estimated 1,500 fatalities and 71,000 injuries each year, and an annual monetary loss of approximately $12.5 billion. More than 10 percent of drivers admit to having fallen asleep at the wheel, while more than 20 percent say they have momentarily dozed while driving, according to the study of 1,024 drivers.
Warning signs to look out for:
Continuously yawning, day-dreaming, or wandering in the lane
Your reactions unintentionally speeding up or slowing down.
Eyes feel stiff or heavy and you find your thoughts are unfocused
Your car wanders over the center line or off the edge of the road
Tips to avoid falling asleep at the wheel:
- Avoiding driver fatigue on long trips.
- Drivers should give themselves plenty of time to get to their destinations and schedule in regular breaks.
- For long trips plan in advance so you know where you are going to take a break.
- Take a break at least every 2 hours.
- Plan to stay somewhere overnight if you are going on a long journey.
- Share the driving - and make sure to take rest when you are not driving.
- Try not to drive when you would normally be asleep (early mornings and late nights.)
- Caffeine provides a quick, but short-lived improvement in alertness. So, to capitalize on its benefits, one should use it only when a boost is needed.
- Drink water, eat fruit and healthy snacks rather than fatty and sugary food.
Seattle Car Accident Attorneys
A motor vehicle accident is when a road vehicle collides with another vehicle, pedestrian, road debris, or man-made object. These collisions can result in personal injury, property damage, or death. Motor vehicle accidents can involve automobiles, trucks, semi or tractor trailer trucks, delivery vehicles, passenger vans, motorcycles, etc. If you or a family member has suffered as the result of a car accident in Washington state,
Seattle motor vehicle accident attorney Chris Davis and the Davis Law Group, P.S. can help you. We are committed to helping car accident, trucking accident, DUI accident, and motorcycle accident victims recover the just and fair compensation they are entitled to receive under the law.
Category: Car Accidents
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