There are many reasons why people may struggle to safely operate motor vehicles. Some people get behind the wheel while chemically impaired. Others might handle their phones while driving, which can have devastating consequences.
Fatigue also has a known association with increased crash risk. Drivers who are tired may struggle to safely operate their vehicles. In some cases, they may even fall asleep at the wheel. While most people might assume that falling asleep at the wheel is uncommon, a much higher proportion of drivers than they might expect report doing exactly that.
Fatigue is a major social issue
Many people pride themselves on working as hard as they can. In some cases, their own health pays the price for their ambitions. They may not get enough rest, which may lead to a chronic sense of fatigue. That fatigue can lead to exhausted drivers falling asleep at the wheel.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that roughly one in 25 drivers admits to falling asleep at the wheel at least one time in the last 30 days. In other words, 4% of motorists may have lost consciousness while driving in the last month.
While that is still a small percentage of drivers overall, it is enough for it to be a source of concern for everyone on the road. Even if a driver only falls asleep for a few seconds, they could swerve into oncoming traffic or make other mistakes that cause devastating collisions.
Holding unsafe drivers accountable for causing car wrecks may involve an insurance claim or possibly even a civil lawsuit. Motorists who identify common collision risk factors can be more assertive about protecting themselves from a crash and demanding financial accountability after one.