Why is fatigued driving dangerous?

Many people take pride in how much they can accomplish in a single day, but that sometimes comes at a great cost. For some, the cost is skimping on sleep. Many people don’t realize how dangerous that decision is, particularly if they have to drive.

Fatigued driving is a serious problem that can impact innocent people on the roads. While it doesn’t receive the same public attention as drunk driving, the effects of fatigued driving can mimic drunk driving.

Fatigue leads to significant impairment

The longer a person goes without sleep, the more likely they are to experience impairment. A person who drives after being awake for 18 hours will have similar effects as a person who has a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .05%. If they drive without sleep for 20 hours, they will have effects that are the same as a person who has a BAC of .08%, which is legally impaired.

The effects can impact almost every aspect of driving. The driver may have trouble with concentration, risk assessment, depth perception and hand-eye coordination.

Another risk of fatigued driving

Impairment isn’t the only risk that drivers face if they’re fatigued. Microsleeps are also possible, and these can be incredibly dangerous. A microsleep occurs when the driver dozes off for a few seconds. Even a five-second microsleep can be devastating because a vehicle can travel a football field length during that time if the driver is going 55 miles per hour.

Victims of fatigued driving crashes can suffer horrific injuries, many of which will require emergency medical care. Those victims may opt to pursue a compensation claim to help them get the costs associated with the crash covered. This has to be done quickly because of time limits.