The government delegate in Cantabria, Eugenia Gómez de Diego, today stressed the importance of social awareness about the danger of drowsiness at the wheel, which, according to experts, “is the main cause of traffic accidents after alcohol”.
Gómez de Diego made these statements during the inauguration of training sessions on drowsiness and driving organized by the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) and the College of Doctors of Cantabria, in which the general director Pere Navarro participated; the provincial chief José Miguel Tolosa, as well as the president of the medical institution Javier Hernández de Sande.
In her speech, the government delegate pointed out that drowsiness was present in 7% of fatal traffic accidents in 2023 , and that statistics indicate that sleep problems are the second cause of accidents, only behind alcohol.
"The dream is one of the greatest enemies at the wheel," said Gómez de Diego, who insisted on the importance of becoming aware of this problem, and stressed that the celebration of these days is "fundamental" for the prevention of this type of accidents.
Before the beginning of the exhibitions, the general director of Traffic, Pere Navarro, has detailed the profile of these accidents, which “occur at night, between 0.00 and 06.00 hours or after lunch, between 14.00 and 17.00 hours”. “The driver usually goes alone, it occurs at high speeds and the consequence is the exit of the road,” he added.
As the Director General of Traffic has warned, “lack of sleep produces tiredness, fatigue and irritability, which damages attention and reduces the ability to respond.”
Training sessions
The training sessions have brought together experts from different sectors to discuss drowsiness and how this factor has a direct impact on road accidents.
The sessions, which take place this afternoon at the headquarters of the College of Doctors, are addressing topics such as the causes of drowsiness, its effects on driving, strategies to prevent it and tips for driving safely.
The sessions are aimed at professional and non-professional drivers, as well as health and road safety professionals.