Drivers must ensure they’re well-rested and not suffering from drowsiness so they can drive safely. Fatigued driving is a major hazard for the driver and everyone else on the road because it can have effects that are similar to drunk driving.
Fatigued driving is sometimes caused by a lack of sleep. If a driver goes 20 hours without sleep, they’ll experience effects on their driving that are the same as a person who has a blood alcohol concentration of .08%, which is legally drunk.
Other causes of fatigued driving
Drivers can suffer from fatigue even if they get enough sleep. This is common when a driver is driving when they’d normally be sleeping. One factor that comes into the picture is the body’s circadian rhythm, which determines when the person should be sleeping.
Microsleeps may occur
A driver who’s fatigued may doze off while they’re behind the wheel. These are known as microsleeps and can last a few seconds or longer. The issue with this is that the vehicle isn’t being controlled when the driver is dozing. If that vehicle is in motion for just five seconds while going 55 miles per hour, it will go the length of a football field.
Crashes that are caused by fatigued driving can cause catastrophic injuries. The victims of those wrecks may opt to pursue a compensation claim. This can help them to recover the financial damages that they’re dealing with due to medical expenses and others related to the crash.