The tendency of people to try to maximize every hour of every single day can lead to them skipping out on sleep or to over-scheduling activities. For those individuals, there’s a chance that they’ll get behind the wheel of a vehicle even though they’re suffering from fatigue.
Unfortunately, fatigued driving is sometimes a fatal decision. These drivers are making the decision to drive while they’re drowsy, which puts them and others on the road in danger.
What causes fatigued driving?
Lack of adequate sleep is the most common cause of fatigued driving. The effects that a driver experiences increase as the driver goes longer without sleep. By the time a person goes 20 hours without sleep, they’ll experience similar effects as a driver who is legally impaired.
Fatigued driving doesn’t happen only from lack of sleep. It can also occur when a driver is awake at a time when they’d normally be asleep. This is commonly associated with people who work overnight and those who work swing shifts.
Medical conditions and medications can also lead to fatigue. Sleep apnea, obesity and diabetes are some common conditions that may cause this. Certain medications, including prescription opioids and over-the-counter antihistamines, can also cause drivers to become drowsy.
Victims of fatigued driving crashes can often suffer from serious injuries that require ongoing medical care. They may opt to pursue a claim for compensation from the negligent driver. This is an attempt to shift the financial responsibility to that individual, but this can be a complex undertaking, so it may be best to work with someone who understands these matters.