Drivers must ensure that they’re able to operate their vehicles in a safe manner. While many focus on their actual driving skills, there’s another factor to consider—fatigue. A driver who is too fatigued to drive safely is a significant hazard to other people on the Illinois roadways, including those near St. Louis, Missouri.
Fatigued driving can be just as dangerous as impaired driving. If a driver goes 18 hours without sleep, they will have effects that mimic a person who has a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .05%. In only two more hours without sleep, the driver will have the driving abilities of a person who has a BAC of .08%, which is legally impaired.
How does fatigue affect driving abilities?
Being too fatigued to drive can lead to slowed reaction time and a reduction in the driver’s ability to make sound judgments. It can also lead to a reduction in their awareness of their surroundings. These make it impossible for them to drive safely.
In some cases, fatigued driving can also lead to microsleeps. These are short dozes that can last a few seconds or longer, but they are incredibly dangerous. If the microsleep lasts only five seconds, the vehicle can go the full length of a football field without proper control if the driver is traveling 55 miles per hour.
There isn’t any quick cure for fatigue. The only way to combat it is for the driver to get sleep. Trying to push through fatigue can lead to catastrophic crashes, so all drivers should ensure they are well rested before they drive. If a crash occurs, victims should seek immediate medical care. They may also opt to pursue a compensation claim to help offset the financial damages they’re dealing with because of the crash.