Auto accidents happen for many reasons. A driver may act aggressively and cause injury to others. Or, a driver may be distracted and lose focus on the road. One of the biggest dangers on the road is drunk driving. Drivers who drink and drive are likely to speed, run red lights and stop signs, swerve and injure others. Everybody knows that these drivers are bad news.
However, there’s another bad habit that’s just as bad as (or even worse than) drunk driving and that’s drowsy driving. Here’s what you should know:
Drowsy drivers can be more dangerous than drunk ones
When a driver is fatigued, they may find it difficult to maintain attention on the road, gauge the space between vehicles and respond to hazards. Some sleepy drivers have even been known to doze off at the wheel and completely lose control of their cars.
Any driver can suddenly feel drowsy while driving. People who work long hours or nights are much more prone to feel sleepy while driving. Those who have driven great distances without stopping may also feel sleepy. Additionally, some medical problems and drugs might make people feel sleepy while driving.
It can be challenging to determine whether drowsy driving is more prevalent and dangerous than drunk driving. Following collisions, many drivers have adrenaline surges, and any indicators of fatigue are frequently gone – and that may hide the true extent of the problem.
What can drivers do to avoid this problem?
It’s critical to get the recommended amount of sleep each night. People may experience unexpected changes in tiredness while driving if they skip a few hours of sleep or alter their sleeping schedule. Drivers feeling sleepy may need to consider finding a place to stop and stay the night or to get a cup of coffee. Coffee can increase people’s alertness and ability to focus.
Victims of drowsy driving accidents often suffer serious injuries and losses. It may help victims to get legal assistance as they try to obtain fair compensation for their medical bills and other losses.
