Drowsy driving is, in many ways, similar to drunk driving or distracted driving. All three of these issues impact a driver’s awareness and how focused they are on the road around them. Someone who is impaired, looking down at their phone or starting to fall asleep simply can’t react as quickly to conditions around them on the road.
In fact, statistics indicate that there are likely hundreds of fatal fatigued driving accidents every year, along with thousands of accidents leading to injuries. Safety experts recommend pulling over to take a nap, drinking a hot cup of coffee, trying to get more sleep during the night and things of this nature. But even though these tips can help, they don’t eliminate the root issue, which is people that people will continue to drive when they’re too tired.
Why do people do this?
A big part of the problem is just the way that people perceive fatigued driving. They don’t think that it’s a serious safety issue. They might not enjoy driving when they’re tired, but they’ll keep going and try to get home.
With other issues, drivers at least do understand the urgency. They know that drunk driving is a risk and could lead to an accident, or they know they shouldn’t be looking down at their cell phone. But too many drivers simply don’t realize that fatigued driving is so similar and can have the same ramifications, so they take it less seriously.
Have you been injured in an accident caused by one of these tired drivers? If so, you may need to seek financial compensation for medical bills and related costs.