Most drivers have knowledge of the risks associated with driving under the influence. Campaigns around the world have educated the public on the risks of drunk driving. Because of this, nations have introduced strict laws about drunk driving. Driving while drowsy is much less educated, and far less publicized, but is equally dangerous.
Driving drowsy can immensely hinder your concentration on the events happening on the road. Drowsy drivers are slow to respond to stimulus and have a poor decision making skills which can cause fatal accidents.
Drowsiness may even cause a driver to fall asleep at the wheel, unaware of the danger. The outcome of this could easily be fatal and shows that drowsy driving is as serious a problem as driving under the influence.
Sleep Deprivation and Impaired Driving
The brain needs sleep in order to function and driving without sufficient sleep impairs your cognitive abilities in the same way that other impairments do.
One of the most significant effects of lack of sleep is reduced reaction time. While driving, there are decisions that one must always be prepared to make. An example of this is responding to traffic that has suddenly halted, a pedestrian that has walked in front of you or an object that could be blocking the road. A driver that’s drowsy would take seconds to respond which is plenty of time for a crash to occur during that response on the busy road.
Drivers who do not get enough sleep often ignore the road. They can forget traffic signs, can miss changing speed limits, and will not notice when other cars start braking. The falling asleep at the wheel, even for a moment, can cause a fatal crash.
Drivers who are current on sleep are similar to those who drive under the influence or while impaired by other means. A driver who is tired is more likely to drive right on the back of other cars. They can even be on a completely empty road but totally misjudge how far away other cars are. Because of how tired the driver is, they are more likely to do something dangerous.
Driving for long periods without sleep has also been proven to decrease the ability to drive. There have even been cases when a driver has stayed up for long periods and has been compared to people who have a disease where they have a decrease in their mental capacity.
To be fair, fatigue and other forms of impairment impact the body differently. What they have in common is that they significantly reduce a driver’s ability to operate a vehicle safely.
That’s why drowsy driving is so concerning. Most people wouldn’t even think about driving when their abilities are impaired; yet, they might not think twice about driving on just a few hours of sleep.
Microsleeps Can Cause Catastrophic Crashes Without Warning
A microsleep is a short sleeping episode that lasts a few seconds that you experience when you are incredibly sleep deprived. This is often considered one of the most dangerous things that can happen to a person driving while drowsy. The driver going through it might not even realize it happened. In that time, however, the brain essentially shuts off awareness of the surrounding environment.
It only takes seconds.
Consider a four to five second microsleep with respect to a car traveling at high speeds. That car could travel hundreds of feet while the driver is completely unaware and unresponsive. If something hazardous shows up in the road, then there might not even be an opportunity to respond to avoid a crash. Traffic can slow immediately at any time. A curve can be approaching.
Microsleeps often happen when drivers are already fighting fatigue. From frequent yawning and heavy eyelids to drifting between lanes, there are common warning signs. A driver might miss exits or traffic signals. They might find it hard to recall the last few miles of the journey. Unfortunately, most drivers will ignore these indications and continue driving.
This is where drowsy driving differs from many other types of impairment. Some individuals recognize they’re not in a condition to drive safely and choose not to drive. Alternatively, fatigue can quietly intensify until the body basically overrides someone’s efforts to stay awake. The frightening aspect of microsleeps is how they can happen without warning, leaving a vehicle effectively uncontrolled at the worst possible times.
Long highway trips are more likely to be associated with fatigued driving crashes caused by microsleeping. The lack of stimulation and the repetitive nature of the driving conditions can make even the most alert drivers fatigued. Night driving is especially dangerous because it goes against the body’s natural sleep patterns. This is also true for shift workers who are long distance truck drivers and people who have irregular work schedules.
It is a misconception to think that microsleeping is only a problem for a few select occupations. The truth is, anyone who is sleep deprived is at risk.
We know that drowsy driving is dangerous to ourselves and others, but the problem still persists. This is mainly due to the fact that most people don’t think they are that fatigued. We like to think that the most dangerous driving behaviors can be circumvented by taking some precautions. For instance, we roll the window down, crank the radio up, and we stop to get a cup of coffee.
Though this is a poor substitute for alertness, sleep deprivation does not go away. There is a social acceptance of drowsy driving, because people do not perceive an immediate threat that will lead to a driving crash.
In the end, driver fatigue can have the same dangerous effects on society as impaired driving.
The Dangers of Drowsy Driving Behaviors
Driving while drowsy may be worse than driving while tired because of the amount of sleep lost. Sleep deprivation affects choice, concentration, and the speed of your body’s involuntary reflexes. Each of these have the same consequences of driving under the influence.
The most dangerous part about driving while tired is that the driver often is overconfident about the situation and really has no idea how impaired they actually are. This often leads to the driver going into a “microsleep” where the driver actually goes to sleep for several seconds without being aware. All of these together can be a recipe for disaster.
Driving while tired and causing a serious accident can have consequences that are just as severe as driving while impaired. That is why many people who suffer significant injuries in crashes caused by drowsy or impaired drivers turn to car accident lawyers for help. A qualified and experienced attorney can provide valuable help for car accident victims by explaining their legal options, guiding them through the claims process, and helping them pursue the closure they deserve after an accident that should never have happened.