Drivers must ensure they’re not too drowsy to drive when they get behind the wheel of a vehicle. In a culture where staying busy is considered being productive, it’s easy to understand why some individuals will think that they should push through fatigue to get things done, but doing so while driving can be catastrophic.
Drowsy drivers can have effects that are comparable to a drunk driver. After 20 hours without sleep, a driver will have the same effects as a person who’s legally intoxicated with a blood alcohol concentration of .08%. The negative impact on driving abilities starts long before that point.
Causes of drowsy driving
Drowsy driving can stem from causes other than a lack of sleep. Taking medications, such as narcotics or antihistamines, can also lead to drowsiness. Medications that are likely to have this effect on drivers will have warning labels, so paying close attention to those is critical.
Drivers may become fatigued while they drive if it’s a time they’d normally be asleep or if they’re driving on familiar roads. Paying close attention to signs of fatigue, such as yawning or frequent blinking, may help them to learn when to get off the road.
Some drivers who are too fatigued to drive will fall asleep behind the wheel. Even if this only lasts a few seconds, which is known as a microsleep, they can still cause a crash because the vehicle is moving without proper control.
Victims of fatigued driving crashes may suffer horrific injuries that require intensive medical care. They may opt to pursue a claim for compensation to help cover the financial damages they’re dealing with.
