The biggest danger is that the driver will fall asleep. Even if the motorist nods off for only five seconds while driving on the highway, his/her vehicle has traveled a distance of a football field. With congested traffic, it is not difficult to imagine what happens.
Driving Fatigued Is Like Driving Drunk
We’ve all experienced the feeling of having to yawn excessively while driving. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 37 percent of all adults do not get enough sleep. Whether it is a new baby, working three jobs or just staying up late, it has happened to all of us. However, if you are reading this, you are lucky since 697 drivers were killed by fatigued driving in 2019.
Dangers of Fatigued Driving
The biggest danger is that the driver will fall asleep. Even if the motorist nods off for only five seconds while driving on the highway, his/her vehicle has traveled a distance of a football field. With congested traffic, it is not difficult to imagine what happens.
Consequences of Driving When Fatigued
Some consequences of driving fatigued are:
- Veering into an adjacent lane
- Cognitive difficulties
- A slow reaction time
- Developing tunnel vision
Is Fatigued Driving Common?
The answer to that question is a resounding yes. In fact, the incidence of driving while fatigued is the number three reason for serious traffic accidents behind distracted and impaired driving. Some characteristics of driving when tired are:
- The majority of accidents caused by a fatigued driver occur between midnight and 6:00 a.m.
- Most fatigued drivers are male
- Driving when tired also occurs at rush hour since motorists are tired from a long day’s work
- Many fatigued driving accidents occur on weekends
- More inexperienced motorists drive while fatigued
- Those with several jobs are often too tired to drive safely
- Some medical conditions lead to driving while fatigued
- Long-distance drivers are frequently too tired to drive
- Sleep aids can have a prolonged effect and make the driver drowsy
How to Avoid Fatigued Driving
There are ways that you can avoid being too tired to drive:
- Get enough sleep to avoid being too tired to get behind the wheel. Experts recommend seven hours at a minimum.
- Keep a thermos of coffee or a can of caffeinated soda in the car, especially on long drives.
- If you feel yourself getting tired, pull over and lock the vehicle’s doors and take a nap.
- Teenagers are notorious for not getting enough sleep. Talk to them about the dangers of driving when you are tired.
- Make sure the prescriptions or OTC meds you take do not warn about sleepiness.
- Don’t drink and drive since alcohol tends to make people sleepy.
- If you cannot pull over, open the car’s windows, and turn the radio up.
Employers Can Help
Employers can help by holding classes that deal with driving while fatigued. Another way to focus on fatigued driving is by looking out for signs that employees are getting too tired during work hours and offering rest breaks. Also, using staggered hours for arriving at and leaving work helps to eliminate excessive workplace fatigue.
The Roeser Law Firm
If you live in Washington, D.C., and the surrounding areas, you already know about the problems associated with traffic congestion. Even if you work close to your home, it can take an extra 30 minutes or more to arrive at your residence or vice versa. Be vigilant for signs of fatigue, and do what you can to arrive at your destination safely.
If a fatigued driver causes an accident where you are injured, reach out to the Roeser Law Firm for help. We will investigate the accident to determine liability and use that information to obtain the compensation you deserve. Call us at (202) 660-4070 to schedule a free case review. You can also reach us online.
