Drunk driving and drowsy driving aftermaths yield similar results

These 2015 news headlines and many more came up from a simple web search on drowsy driving in Washington State. They are grim reminders that our society is exhausted.

Since the great recession, we are working longer hours just to keep a roof over our heads. More and more adults also suffer from undiagnosed disorders like sleep apnea and acute insomnia.

On our campuses, high school and college students pull ‘All Nighters’ to study for tests or write papers and are always tired.

Drowsiness and driving deadly are a deadly combination. There were at least 10 deaths and 77 serious injuries on Washington roads in 2013 that were directly linked to a driver who fell asleep at the wheel.

According to the AAA Foundation, drowsy drivers are involved in an estimated 21% of all fatal crashes, up from 4.5% from 2010. Nationwide, drowsy drivers have caused 1,550 deaths, 71,000 injuries and more than 100,000 accidents each year.

A reasonable person would never drive a car when drunk. But many people will drive when they are tired. There is no difference between being drunk or tired when you are behind the wheel.

A study by researchers in Australia showed that being awake for 18 hours produced an impairment equal to a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .05, and .10 after 24 hours; .08 is considered legally drunk in Washington state.

We tend to ignore statistics of drowsy driving injuries and deaths. We think “That will never happen to me.”

Nine years ago, my daughter Mora, then a 17-year-old Issaquah High graduate, was nearly killed as a result of driver who fell asleep at the wheel. Suffering serious multiple fractures and a two week coma, Mora barely survived. She spent years in recovery.

The only thing that will change mind-sets and habits about drivers getting behind the wheel of a car when they have not slept for 20-plus hours is swift and sure penalties.

Every Washington driver, every legislator and every judge needs to understand the widespread seriousness of drowsy driving. Their attitudes and our laws about it need to change.

Drowsy driving kills, injures and shatters lives just the same as drunk driving does. Ask the family and friends of those lost or injured this year. Just ask my daughter. Just ask me.

Governor Jay Inslee has proclaimed November 1-8 as Washington State’s Drowsy Driving Prevention Week. During the busy holiday season, we urge all drivers to be aware of their fatigue before getting behind the wheel of a car.