Thousands of motor vehicle crashes are caused by fatigued driving each year, many of which result in fatalities. This is problematic because each of these crashes is fully preventable. All vehicle drivers must ensure that they’re well rested and able to properly control their vehicle.
The temptation to stay busy and productive all the time can lead to people not getting enough sleep. That lack of sleep is a primary cause of fatigued driving. Consider this—by the time a person goes 20 hours without sleep, they will naturally experience the same impacts on their motor skills and cognitive abilities as someone who has a blood alcohol concentration of .08%, which is legally impaired.
Fatigue can stem from other causes
While lack of sleep is a primary cause of fatigue, there are others to consider. Some of these include:
- Driving on familiar roads
- Working swing or third shifts
- Driving when the body would normally be asleep
- Taking medications that cause drowsiness
- Having certain medical conditions, such as sleep apnea
In some cases, more than one cause contributes to the driver’s fatigue.
Even short periods of fatigue are dangerous
Driving while fatigued for any period of time is dangerous. Fatigue can reduce reaction time, but it can also lead to microsleeps. Microsleeps are short bursts of dozing off, during which the vehicle is completely uncontrolled. If a driver is going 55 miles an hour and dozes off for five seconds, the vehicle goes the full length of a regulation football field.
No quick fixes prevent fatigued driving
There is no quick fix that will prevent fatigued driving. Things like rolling down the window or listening to music are only short-term fixes. Drivers who are fatigued should get off the road and rest until they’re able to drive safely.
Victims of these crashes may need medical care. Fatal injuries can occur. Ultimately, a compensation claim against the negligent driver is likely possible, but time limits and case complexity mean that having assistance is often beneficial.