People might say that Austin’s got fewer accidents than the rest of Texas, and while that’s true statistically, the truth is that Austin still sees a lot of crashes a year.
A majority of victims from these accidents turned to drowsy driving accident lawyers in Austin to help them fight and hold the negligent party accountable.
In 2021, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 684 deaths from drowsy driving. But that’s just the official number. When the AAA Foundation looked deeper, they found that tired driving is likely involved in up to 17.6% of all fatal crashes. That means we could be looking at 8,500 deaths a year, just from people being too tired behind the wheel.
In Texas alone, more than 9,700 crashes were caused by drowsy drivers in 2017. Let that sink in. Almost 10,000 crashes. And it’s not always easy to prove someone was asleep when the accident happened. This means a lot of drowsy driving goes unreported or misclassified.
What Does a Tired Driver Look Like?
Recognizing when a driver is too tired could help you avoid a crash or even help law enforcement stop something tragic before it happens. Here are the dead giveaways:
Swerving between lanes
Just like a drunk driver, a drowsy driver might start swerving in and out of their lane. They might hit the rumble strips on the side of the road and jolt back awake.
This is especially dangerous on long, dark stretches of highways. If you see a car that can’t seem to stay in one lane, be sure to keep your distance.
Random and erratic braking
A tired driver might suddenly slam on the brakes when there’s no one in front of them. It’s like their brain clicks back on for a second and panics. This can happen anywhere, but in high-traffic areas, it can cause rear-end collisions in a heartbeat.
Speeding up and slowing down
Drowsy drivers lose track of their speed. One minute they’re going too slow, and the next, they’re racing past you. They’re not really in a rush; that’s happening because they’re fading in and out of focus.
Delayed reaction time
This one’s scary because you can’t always see it until it’s too late. A tired driver might brake late, take too long to respond to a green light, or not notice a pedestrian crossing until it’s nearly too late. And in a city with as many cyclists and pedestrians as Austin, that delay can be deadly.
Head bobbing or nodding off
Sometimes you catch a glimpse of the driver next to you. If you notice them jerking their head up like they just woke up, or tilting forward like they’re dozing, they are not okay to be driving.
They’re having what’s called a microsleep, which is basically a few seconds of actual sleep while still driving.
Conclusion
If you’re driving and see these signs in another car, don’t try to pass them or ride close behind. Give them space. If you can safely pull over and report them, do it. You could be saving someone’s life.
And if you start feeling tired behind the wheel? Pull over and rest or take a nap, because trying to push through the fatigue is not worth the risk.
