Drivers have to be sure that they’re capable of operating their vehicle each time they get behind the wheel. One factor that can negatively impact some drivers is fatigue. Adults in today’s society may think that they need to get as much done as they can each day. In some cases, sleep and rest are the areas that suffer.
Fatigue is a contributing factor in approximately 20% of crashes. Many people don’t realize that going too long without sleep or sleeping for too few hours can lead to catastrophic crashes. If a driver sleeps less than five hours at night, they are just as likely to get into a crash as an impaired driver.
Fatigue’s impact on driving abilities
A driver who isn’t getting enough sleep can suffer from effects on their driving that are similar to those of impairment. By the time a person goes 20 hours without sleep, their driving abilities will be equal to someone who has a blood alcohol concentration of .08%, which is legally impaired.
Some of the more common effects of fatigued driving include slowed reaction time, increased risk-taking taking and impaired motor function. Another issue that can occur is microsleeps, which are short dozes that can last a few seconds or longer.
The primary issue with microsleeps is that the vehicle isn’t adequately controlled if the driver is dozing. A microsleep that’s only five seconds long can involve a vehicle moving 100 yards, which is the length of a regulation football field, if the vehicle is going 55 miles per hour.
Fatigued driving crashes can be catastrophic and may lead to victims needing immediate medical attention. These victims may opt to pursue a compensation claim to help hold the negligent driver accountable for the damages of the crash.