Driver Fatigue: A Road Nightmare
Drivers who are fatigued may often not realize that he or she has drifted into the wrong lane until it is too late. Some may even fall asleep on the wheel and this is why driver fatigue is a common cause of car accidents and is extremely dangerous.
According to the Traffic Safety Facts of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 1,404 motorists got into a fatal crash in 2007 because they were drowsy, asleep, fatigued, and ill.
Tired drivers are impaired drivers—they often have a more difficult time processing and using information. They have less concentration and have slower reaction times because of their conditions.
In a poll conducted by the National Sleep Foundation, 60% of Americans have driven while feeling sleepy and 37% admit to actually having fallen asleep at the wheel. Its 2002 poll also showed that:
- Drivers between the ages of 18-29 years are much more likely to drive while drowsy compared to other age groups (71%)
- Men are more likely than women to drive while drowsy and are almost twice as likely as women to fall asleep while driving.
- Sleep deprivation increases the risk of a sleep-related crash; the less people sleep, the greater the risk.
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study also showed that people who sleep six to seven hours a night are twice as likely to be involved in a crash as those who slept 8 hours or more; while people who sleep less than 5 hours increased their risk four to five times.
Drowsy driving is dangerous and can lead to tragic car accidents. But this can be avoided if drivers would take the time to have enough sleep or rest when they feel that they are getting fatigued.
As they say, an ounce of prevention is always better than a pound of cure. So prevent the accident before it can ever happen by taking note of the signs of driver fatigue in order to know when to stop and rest:
- Difficulty focusing, frequent blinking, or heavy eyelids
- Daydreaming; wandering/disconnected thoughts
- Trouble remembering the last few miles driven; missing exits or traffic signs
- Yawning repeatedly or rubbing your eyes
- Drifting from your lane, tailgating, or hitting a shoulder rumble strip