Many people take pride in staying busy, sometimes so much that they skimp on sleep. This is a dangerous decision because there’s a chance that they may get behind the wheel of the vehicle while they’re too tired to drive.
Being too tired to drive can have similar effects to impaired driving. The longer the driver is awake, the more pronounced the effects will be. The effects of fatigue can mimic those that an impaired driver experiences.
For example, a person who hasn’t slept in 18 hours is comparable to someone who has a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .05%. At 20 hours, the person has effects that are comparable to someone with a BAC of .08%, which is legally drunk.
Effects beyond altered driving abilities
Fatigued drivers may doze off while they’re driving. These microsleeps can last a few seconds or longer, but that’s ample time for a catastrophic crash to occur. A vehicle can travel 100 yards, or the length of a football field, in just five seconds if it’s traveling 55 miles per hour. Serious, life-altering crashes can occur during that time.
Anyone who feels fatigued shouldn’t try to drive. Temporary fixes, such as opening a window or drinking caffeine, aren’t suitable alternatives for getting sleep.
Victims of fatigued driving crashes will often suffer catastrophic injuries, which can lead to considerable medical expenses. Those victims may opt to pursue a compensation claim to help them cover the financial damages related to the crash. This must be done swiftly after the crash occurs because the law sets time limits for these matters.