Drivers must ensure they’re in good shape to drive so they don’t harm anyone else. When a driver is fatigued, they may not be able to react to what’s going on around their vehicle. Innocent victims are killed or injured in these crashes. The sad fact is that these wrecks are preventable.
There are many myths surrounding fatigued driving. It’s crucial that drivers don’t succumb to any of these. Having an understanding of fatigued driving and why it’s so problematic may help.
Fatigue can only be cured with sleep
People tend to think that they can count on coffee or rolling the windows down for fresh air to stay awake while they drive. These are temporary measures that should only be used until it’s safe for them to stop somewhere to sleep.
Getting adequate sleep is the only safe way that a driver can battle fatigue. Staying awake for 20 hours has the same effects as being legally drunk. A fatigued driver is three times more likely than a rested driver to be involved in a wreck.
In some cases, even sleep isn’t going to help much. Fatigue that’s caused by a medical condition or medication may make it unsafe to drive until the person is off the medication or until the medical condition is under control.
Even microsleeps are potentially deadly
One of the risks of fatigued driving is microsleeps. These sometimes last only a few seconds, but that’s a long time when a person is driving. At just 55 miles per hour, a vehicle will go the length of a football field in five seconds. That’s a considerable distance for a vehicle to go without a driver watching where it’s moving.
Crashes caused by fatigued drivers can be traumatic for the victims. They may need considerable medical care after the wreck. There’s no reason why they should be responsible for the costs of the care they need. They can seek compensation from the negligent driver for damages, such as medical expenses and lost wages. California has time limits for these matters, so be sure you get started quickly after the crash.