Drivers must ensure that they are well-rested so they don’t succumb to fatigue while they’re behind the wheel. Fatigued driving can lead to catastrophic crashes that can cause serious injuries or fatalities.
Some drivers may assume that they’re able to drive safely, even if they aren’t. They may not even think about it if they’re staying busy and sacrificing their sleep. There comes a point when lack of sleep can become a serious problem.
Fatigued driving can mimic drunk driving
While most people accept that drunk driving is not acceptable, they don’t realize just how much fatigue can negatively affect someone’s ability to drive. By the time a person goes 18 hours without sleep, they suffer from effects that are the same as a person who has a 0.05% blood alcohol concentration, which is just under the level for being legally impaired. Some of the effects of this include slowed reaction time, changes in motor function and difficulties making decisions.
Lack of sleep isn’t the only cause of fatigued driving. It can also be caused by medications, medical conditions and driving on familiar roads. Driving at night or when the body expects sleep can also lead to fatigued driving.
The risk of microsleeps is real
One of the most significant risks of fatigue driving is microsleeps. These are short periods of dozing that can last a few seconds or longer. Even though they’re short, they can still cause significant problems. In just five seconds at 55 miles an hour, the vehicle can go the entire length of a regulation football field. If the driver is in the midst of a microsleep during that time, they won’t have proper control over the vehicle, which comes with a risk of crashes.
Victims of fatigued driving crashes may have serious injuries that require medical care. They may have to take time off of work. The expenses related to the crash, coupled with the reduction or loss of income, may be devastating. Finally, they may decide to seek compensation from the fatigued driver who struck them.