Each day, drivers get on the road while they’re too drowsy to drive safely. At least half of adults in this country say that they have driven while they’re drowsy. Some people may not realize it, but fatigue can have the same effects on driving ability as alcohol or drug impairment.
A driver who hasn’t slept in 18 hours will have motor skill and cognitive ability changes that mimic those of a person who has a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .05%. By the time they hit 20 hours without sleep, that effect is the same as someone who has a BAC of .08%, which is considered legally impaired.
Even short microsleeps can be deadly
Another issue of fatigued driving is that it can lead to microsleeps. These are short periods of sleep that can last a few seconds or longer. But even a short microsleep can be deadly. It only takes five seconds at a speed of 55 miles an hour to go the full length of a regulation football field. That means that if the driver is asleep for only five seconds, the vehicle was uncontrolled for that entire distance.
Hundreds of people are killed and thousands are injured each year in fatigued driving crashes. Each of those could have been prevented if the driver had ensured they were well rested before driving.
For injured victims and the loved ones of someone who suffered a fatal injury because of a fatigued driver, seeking compensation is possible. There are strict time limits for doing this, so it’s critical to act swiftly. Because of the need to heal after the injury, it helps to have legal guidance in pursuing compensation on the victim’s behalf.