Adults often think they have to push themselves to the limit, sometimes this involves trying to drive places despite being drowsy. While many people think they can drive regardless of what condition they’re in, fatigued driving is a major safety issue.
A person who’s fatigued may not be able to sufficiently control their vehicle. After 20 hours without sleep, the driver is likely to experience the same effects as a person who has a blood alcohol concentration of .08%, which is legally impaired.
There’s also a chance of microsleeps, which means the driver may doze off for a few seconds or longer. The dangers of even a five-second microsleep are considerable. If a vehicle is moving at 55 miles per hour, it moves the length of a football field in that five-second period. That’s a considerable distance for a vehicle to go uncontrolled.
What causes fatigued driving?
Lack of sleep is only one of the possible causes of fatigued driving, but there are others that may affect drivers even if they get ample sleep. For example, driving at a time when they’d normally be asleep can cause a driver to become fatigued. This is a common issue for people who work third or swing shifts.
Certain medications and medical conditions can also lead to fatigued driving. Sleep apnea, diabetes and even allergies can all cause significant trouble for drivers. Any medication that has a warning about operating heavy machinery or drowsiness can lead to fatigued driving.
Victims of fatigued driving crashes may not always be able to ascertain the cause of the wreck, but they may opt to pursue a legal claim against the negligent driver. This gives them the opportunity to seek compensation for the financial damages they’ve dealt with. Working with someone familiar with these matters may be beneficial.