Most people have had an experience where they felt very tired while driving the car. Perhaps they’ve even nodded off for a split second or felt like they were going to fall asleep. It can be very unnerving and it can make you feel like you’re not driving safely.
And it is true that fatigued driving is a major risk. Some health experts compare it to drunk driving. They are quick to note that your odds of being involved in an accident are three times as high when you’re fatigued. There’s a very real impact on the way that you can drive when you’re simply too tired to do it safely.
Slower reaction times
One reason that fatigued driving leads to car accidents is that your reaction times get much worse when you’re tired. Once again, you can see how this is similar to drunk driving. When you can’t react as quickly on the road, something that should only take a split second can take a few seconds, and that can be the difference between avoiding an accident and getting in a crash.
Fatigued drivers are also just more likely to make mistakes they wouldn’t make otherwise. Someone who is close to nodding off may not see a stop sign or may not hit the brakes in time to come to a complete stop. If they do drift off for a moment behind the wheel, that could cause the car to leave the roadway or cross the centerline. Other drivers may believe that that person is impaired or distracted, but the truth may just be that they’re tired.
Have you been hit by a tired driver?
If you were injured in an accident caused by a fatigued driver, and you believe their negligence is at fault, you may be able to seek financial compensation.