Hundreds of thousands of fatigued driving crashes occur each year. These lead to hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries, all of which could be prevented. Drivers who are overly tired can have slowed reaction times and may suffer from microsleeps.
Many people don’t realize that fatigued driving is just as dangerous as drunk driving. A person who goes 20 hours without sleep experiences similar driving effects as someone who is legally intoxicated with a blood alcohol concentration of .08%.
Common causes of driver fatigue
Lack of sleep is the most obvious cause of fatigue, but it’s far from the only one. Working long hours, irregular shifts or overnight jobs can all throw off your body’s internal clock and lead to drowsy driving. People who work multiple jobs or have demanding schedules are especially vulnerable.
Certain medical conditions like sleep apnea, insomnia or narcolepsy can also leave someone feeling exhausted even after a full night’s rest. And let’s not forget medications—some over-the-counter antihistamines or prescription drugs list drowsiness as a side effect, which can seriously impair a driver without them realizing it.
Long road trips and driving at times when the body naturally expects sleep (like late at night or early morning) are also common risk factors. The monotony of highway driving can make it even worse, lulling a tired driver into a dangerous daze.
Fatigued driving can lead to catastrophic crashes, which can result in significant injuries for the victims. The medical care they need can be costly, but the victims may opt to pursue a claim for compensation to help offset related expenses. Working with someone familiar with these matters may be beneficial in these cases.
