Anybody who gets behind the wheel of a vehicle could become fatigued at some point. If this happens, it’s important for the person to get off the road as soon as possible. Furthermore, drivers should not return to the road until they are well rested.
Some people have a greater risk of fatigued driving than others. According to a study by the National Sleep Foundation, these people are most commonly involved in sleep related accidents:
— Adults between the age of 18 and 29.
— Men are more likely to operate a motor vehicle while they are drowsy.
— Adults who have children are more likely to drive drowsy than those who don’t have children.
— Shift workers are more likely to drive drowsy when compared to those who work a standard daytime schedule.
Sleep deprivation greatly increases the chance of a sleep related accident. When a person is too fatigued to drive, there is a chance that he or she could fall asleep behind the wheel. Even if this doesn’t happen, the person may not be in condition to make timely and accurate decisions.
Even if you are alert, you don’t know if other drivers feel the same way. It only takes a single fatigued driver to cause a serious accident that injures or kills another person.
If you are involved in an accident with a drowsy driver, make sure you receive medical treatment before you do anything else. At some point down the road, you can learn more about the cause of the accident and your rights as a victim.
Source: National Sleep Foundation, “Facts and Stats,” accessed July 15, 2016
