Driver’s fatigue is one of the most common causes of a motor vehicle accident.
Recently, Disney star 17-year old Demi Lovato was involved in an early morning car accident in Los Angeles. Lovato, fortunately, was unscathed but the teen actress admitted that she was sleepy when she got behind the wheel.
Fatigued driving is when a driver operates the motor vehicle while tired or drowsy. Sleep deprivation, exhaustion, illness and being on prescription drugs are the factors behind fatigued or drowsy driving.
Drowsy or fatigued driving is another type of impaired driving. People may underestimate the seriousness of driving tired or sleepy but fatigued driving actually has a lot in common with drunk driving.
Just like drivers under the influence of drugs and alcohol, fatigued drivers also:
• Have a slower reaction time
• Have decreased awareness and concentration
• Have impaired judgment
Statistics for fatalities of fatigued driving are not as high as drunk driving. Nevertheless, it merits concern and attention because as many as 1,404 motorists are killed in fatal crashes as they were either drowsy, fell asleep at the wheel, fatigued, or ill while driving.
Also, people are less likely to be alarmed or aware of how potentially life-threatening driving drowsy or fatigued is. According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), a staggering 71 percent of all drivers aged 18-29 years old are much more likely to drive while drowsy compared to other age groups.
It is estimated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that fatigued driving causes at least 100,000 automobile crashes and 40,000 injuries annually.
So don’t be a statistic the next time you go out on the road. If you’re t driving and you suddenly feel drowsy or tired, remember to pull over, to either drink coffee or take a short break especially if you’re in for a long drive.
Letting your body rest or getting enough hours of sleep are two simple things you can do to avoid getting into a car accident because of drowsy or fatigued driving. Also, be aware of the following signs because you may need to take a break or rest before getting behind the wheel:
• Tired/burning eyes
• Constantly yawning
• Restlessness
• Drooping eyes
• Aching back or hips
So whenever any of these signs are present, pull over to the nearest convenience store so you can rest appropriately. If you disregard such signs, you increase your risk of getting involved in a car accident. And if you fell asleep at the wheel because of fatigue, you will be considered negligent and be held liable for any injury or damage you cause in the accident.
