Drivers should ensure that they’re mentally prepared each time they get behind the wheel. There are various factors that have a negative impact on this, one of which is fatigue. When a driver is fatigued, their reaction time may be slower than usual and they may be unable to make safe decisions. In fact, a person who hasn’t slept in 20 hours will experience symptoms that are comparable to having a blood-alcohol concentration of .08%, which is considered legally impaired.
Another issue that occurs when a driver is drowsy is that they may fall asleep while they drive. These are sometimes microsleeps that occur. While these may last only a few seconds, they can be devastating because of the distance vehicles can travel in that time. When a person is driving 55 miles per hour, the vehicle goes the length of a football field in only five seconds.
Lack of sleep isn’t the only cause of fatigued driving
Some people assume that lack of sleep is the only cause of fatigued driving, but that’s not the case. A person can suffer from fatigue if they’re driving at a time when their body needs sleep. This is often the case for a person who works the third shift or swing shift. Certain medications and medical conditions can also lead to fatigue.
Victims of fatigued driving crashes may opt to pursue a legal claim to help cover the financial damages they have because of the crash. This is a time-sensitive matter, so it may be best to work with someone who can assist with getting the case put together and filed.