Drivers have to be in good mental shape when they’re on the road. Being too tired to drive and trying to push through that feeling to make it to their destination can lead to others on the roads being placed at risk of suffering injuries.
Many people don’t realize just how dangerous it is to try to push through fatigue. A person who hasn’t slept in 20 hours will experience the same effects on their driving as a person who is considered legally drunk.
Fatigued driving can involve more than just a lack of sleep
While lack of sleep is a primary cause of fatigued driving, other causes must also be considered. One of these is trying to drive when the body would normally sleep. This is a common issue for people who work on the third shift because they’re awake when their body would normally sleep.
Medications and illegal drugs are also reasons for fatigue. Any substances, including over-the-counter or prescription medications, that lead to fatigue or dizziness can hurt a driver’s ability to operate a vehicle safely.
Certain medical conditions, such as narcolepsy, sleep apnea, obesity or diabetes, can all lead to fatigue that may impact driving. It’s often unsafe for people with those conditons to drive unless they have their condition well controlled.
Crashes caused by fatigued driving can lead to serious injuries, some of which may require emergency medical care. Those victims may choose to pursue a compensation claim based on the fact that the driver was negligent when they were driving while fatigued. These cases have firm time limits, so swift filing is critical.