Most people are aware of the fact that driver fatigue is a big deal. Even so, there are people out there, such as some truck drivers, who will get behind the wheel when they are not in the condition to do so. By understanding the primary causes of driver fatigue, you may be able to avoid a dangerous situation.
Generally speaking, there are two primary causes of fatigue: driving when you are normally sleeping and a lack of sleep.
With either of these, you are not getting the appropriate amount of sleep. Subsequently, it begins to wear on both your mind and body. While this may not be a big deal if you are sitting at home, it is extremely dangerous if you are behind the wheel of a vehicle.
Here are some things that increase the likelihood that you will become fatigued as a driver:
— The number of hours you have been awake without sleep.
— The time of the day.
— The number of hours that you have been behind the wheel.
— The quality of your last sleep period.
— Your level of mental and physical activity.
In an overall sense, the only thing that matters is that you get off the road if you are too fatigued to drive. This will keep you and everyone else safe.
Even though you may realize the importance of being alert when you drive, others may not take this same approach. For this reason, you could be involved in an accident with a fatigued driver. If this happens, get medical treatment first. From there, learn more about the cause of the accident and your legal rights.
Source: Optalert, “Driver fatigue: symptoms, cause and effects,” accessed July 15, 2016