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Driving drunk or fatigued, which is worse?

Driving drunk or fatigued, which is worse?

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Every day, millions of people around the world use cars to get from point A to point B, yet many are oblivious to the dangers around them, both inside and outside their vehicles.

While there are many factors that contribute to danger on the roads, two you can control to prevent dangerous situations are driving intoxicated and driving fatigued. The question is, which is worse?

Driving drunk

Driving under the influence of alcohol is well known to cause accidents, many of them fatal. Legislators have passed laws on legal limits for blood alcohol levels, and there are heavy penalties for those caught driving drunk.

Even with the strict laws, the death toll hasn't stopped rising. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 28 people in the United States die every day in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver. Broken down, this amounts to one death every 53 minutes. The annual cost of alcohol-related crashes totals more than $44 billion.

Unfortunately, Utah has added to those statistics with 45 deaths in 2014 related to drivers being drunk, nearly doubling the number from the previous year, according to recent reports.

UDOT Executive Director Carlos Braceras called these statistics “very disturbing,” in an interview. “We all share the same roadway, and we need to find a way to do it safely.”

Driving fatigued

Another widespread problem on our nation’s roadways is drivers who get behind the wheel when they are tired.

Unlike drunk driving, however, there are no measurable tests to determine whether you are too tired. While many states are working to pass laws, there are many that do not have laws regulating sleep deprivation.

It’s not just drivers falling asleep who cause accidents. Drowsy driving impacts a driver’s ability to stay alert, and it compromises attention, reaction time, judgment and decision-making, all leading to a greater chance of crashing.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an estimated 100,000 police-reported crashes and 1550 deaths each year are the result of sleep-deprived drivers. In 2013, over 200 Utah deaths were said to be caused by drowsy driving, with over 16,000 injuries reported.

The numbers could be different because of the difficulty of determining a driver's sleepiness.

So, which is worse? Driving drunk or fatigued?

The truth is, both are dangerous. If you have been drinking, don’t drive. If you are tired, don’t drive. Let the statistics speak for themselves, and make sure you do not become one. If you’ve been involved in an accident related to either, be sure to contact a reputable lawyer to help you.

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Robert J. DeBry and Associates

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