One of the big issues across the US is drowsy driving. Today’s drivers push themselves that extra bit to do multiple tasks at once and by and large remain awake past advisable stretches of time. Heavy traffic and driving for long hours can play a part in driver drowsiness, eventually causing related accidents. As per CDC, up to 6,000 deadly accidents may occur yearly due to drowsy driving, which is among the most fatal driver errors when operating on the roadways.
Drowsy Driving Equals Impaired Driving
According to studies, fatigue can weaken a driver to the same extent as alcohol or drugs. Driving after not sleeping for 18 hours is equal to doing it when there is 0.05% of alcohol in the blood. Many do not consider drowsy driving on the same level as inebriated driving, but both forms of driving can be fatal in how much these impair their abilities. Drowsy driving can cause the following issues.
- Slowed response times
- Blurred vision
- Reduced reflexes
- Mental fuzziness
- Disorientation or confusion
- Trouble focusing
- Forgetfulness
- Lack of sound judgment
- Falling asleep when driving
A lethargic driver may lack the cognitive capabilities to safely take calls when operating their automobile. Sluggishness can impair your driving ability, keeping you from swerving or braking sufficiently quickly to avoid a collision. You may weave in and out of traffic, accelerate, drive very slowly, abruptly brake, run red signals, and indulge in other dangerous behavior which can cause an accident. Such mistakes are like the ones that an inebriated driver may commit.
Common Accidents Due to Drowsy Driving
Due to fatigue, a driver cannot control their auto in a safe way, stay in a lane, stop it promptly, and follow traffic laws all at once. They heighten the possibilities of a fatal automobile accident and could lead to any kind of accident. However, some accidents are much more commonly associated with driver fatigue compared to others, and these are as follows.
- Head-on crashes
- Rear-end accidents
- Single-vehicle collisions
- Sideswipe accidents
- Stop-signal running accidents
- Cycle-pedestrian collisions
- Intersection accidents
If you see someone swerving, violating road rules, dozing off when driving, or braking erratically, report that incident to the local police. Contact 911 and provide the dispatcher with that driver’s registration number and vehicle description. Then, remain at a safe distance when the police arrive at the spot to look into the matter.