[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/drtedinjurylaw.com\/blog\/dangers-driving-tired-charlotte-nc\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/drtedinjurylaw.com\/blog\/dangers-driving-tired-charlotte-nc\/","headline":"The Dangers of Driving While Tired in Charlotte, NC","name":"The Dangers of Driving While Tired in Charlotte, NC","description":"Most people don\u2019t talk enough about drowsy driving, and that is probably why people take this issue lightly. That is a mistake, since statistics indicate that more and more accidents in Charlotte, North Carolina are the result of distracted driving. No matter how many signs are on the roads about drowsy driving laws and distracted […]","datePublished":"2019-03-21","dateModified":"2026-02-27","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/drtedinjurylaw.com\/blog\/author\/drtedinjurylaw\/#Person","name":"Dr. Ted Injury Law","url":"https:\/\/drtedinjurylaw.com\/blog\/author\/drtedinjurylaw\/","identifier":9,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/14f7cc800041734c3aca325e17ea63d0c49748e9d8d5747966292ce2be53081c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/14f7cc800041734c3aca325e17ea63d0c49748e9d8d5747966292ce2be53081c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Dr. Ted Injury Law","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/drtedinjurylaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Dr-ted-injury-law-logo-header-red.png","url":"https:\/\/drtedinjurylaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Dr-ted-injury-law-logo-header-red.png","width":210,"height":111}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/drtedinjurylaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/the-dangers-of-driving-while-tired-featured.jpg","url":"https:\/\/drtedinjurylaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/the-dangers-of-driving-while-tired-featured.jpg","height":372,"width":1024},"url":"https:\/\/drtedinjurylaw.com\/blog\/dangers-driving-tired-charlotte-nc\/","about":["Car Accidents"],"wordCount":710,"articleBody":"Most people don\u2019t talk enough about drowsy driving, and that is probably why people take this issue lightly. That is a mistake, since statistics indicate that more and more accidents in Charlotte, North Carolina are the result of distracted driving. No matter how many signs are on the roads about drowsy driving laws and distracted driving, people still drive while tired. Driving tired can be very dangerous, and evidence clearly\u00a0shows that driver fatigue is a very\u00a0common cause of accidents in drivers of all ages.The Dangers of Driving While TiredIt is estimated that nearly 4-5% of drivers over the age of 18 have reported falling asleep while driving over the previous four weeks. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration drowsiness while driving resulted in nearly 72,000 accidents, 44,000 injuries and 800 deaths in 2013. And these numbers are gross underestimates because there is no way of knowing ahead of time if the driver was drowsy in some accidents. This is because most drivers do not admit they were driving tired. It is believed that drowsy driving causes at least 6,000 fatalities each year.Why do\u00a0people feel tired when driving?People end up driving tired for many reasons, some of which include:Not getting enough sleep before getting in the car or truckHaving a sleep-related disorder like sleep apnea (Nearly 50 million Americans have some\u00a0type of\u00a0sleep disorder which could lead to them feeling exhausted and tired during the daytime)Use of certain medications like sedatives, painkillers, and antihistaminesDrinking alcoholPerforming shift workFor truckers, it is meeting deadlines and deliveryWhy is distracted driving so dangerous?Most people who drive have no idea when they will start to feel drowsy. It is usually an uncontrollable feeling which takes over the body. When drivers feel drowsy, the following can happen:The driver is less attentive on the road and may be oblivious to what is happening in and around them.The driver has a slower reaction time.\u00a0For example, in case of a dangerous situation, the driver may react too slowly and may not stop or steer away in time.Their ability to\u00a0make good or safe decisions is impaired due to driver fatigue.Drowsiness also affects other senses like vision and hearing, which make for a very dangerous situation on the road. In addition, one may fail to hear noises like car horns or sirens if their drowsiness is too intense.Drivers should be aware of\u00a0drowsy driving laws as they can offer protection and can guide them as to\u00a0when they should be behind the wheel and when they should not.What are the warning signs of being sleepy while driving?Drowsiness can present in the following ways:Frequent blinking of the eyesFrequent yawningUnable to hold a conversationNot knowing the present location while drivingDifficulty remembering structures\/roads passed over the past few milesMissing your exitSwaying on the roadFailing to obey road signsHow do you avoid drowsy driving?If you ever feel drowsy while driving, it\u2019s best to pull over and rest or get someone else to drive. Just opening the window and letting fresh air in or turning up the radio are not effective methods of curing drowsiness. Remember, if you are driving tired, the risk of being in a car accident can increase. In addition, you can always\u00a0be caught driving randomly, and be penalized for breaking drowsy driving laws. \u00a0There is no point in engaging in distracted driving as it will only cause you harm.Contact a Charlotte Car Accident LawyerIf you are a victim of a car accident that is the result of\u00a0a driver who was driving while tired or distracted, contact Dr. Ted Injury Law. Our firm\u2019s team of attorneys is here to serve you and to provide the best legal representation. We value every client, and we consider any legal issues you face to be important. Our determined\u00a0Charlotte auto accident lawyers\u00a0will take all the relevant details about your case. They will look at\u00a0how the drowsing driving laws can apply\u00a0to your particular situation. They will determine how you can get the compensation you deserve. Call us today, and our legal team will be happy to assist"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/drtedinjurylaw.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"The Dangers of Driving While Tired in Charlotte, NC","item":"https:\/\/drtedinjurylaw.com\/blog\/dangers-driving-tired-charlotte-nc\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]