The desire to get as much done as possible can have a negative impact on the ability of a person to get adequate sleep. Not sleeping enough can lead to fatigue, which makes driving dangerous. It’s imperative that anyone who is going to drive gets enough rest so they aren’t at risk of dozing off when they drive.
A vehicle that’s traveling at 55 miles per hour can travel the length of a football field in only five seconds. This means that dozing off even for a few seconds greatly increases the risk of getting into an accident. Dozing off at the wheel for any reason isn’t acceptable — which you already realize, naturally.
Many people don’t realize, however, that there comes a point when drowsy driving becomes the equivalent of drunk driving. If you’re driving and haven’t slept in the last 20 hours, you’re likely going to experience the same negative driving impacts as a person who has a blood-alcohol concentration of .08%.
Drivers who are fatigued are three times more likely to be involved in a car wreck than a person who’s gotten enough sleep. This puts that driver at risk, but it also puts those on the road with them in danger.
Drowsy driving is atrocious partly because it is preventable. Anyone who’s been struck by a fatigued driver should seek out the medical care they need. Ultimately, they might opt to pursue a claim for compensation that aims to recover the financial damages they suffered due to the crash. They may include things like the cost of medical care and the amount in wages they lost if they were unable to return to work immediately.