From bad weather to drunk drivers, you need to keep an eye out for many different risks while behind the wheel. Additionally, it is important to understand that many accidents occur due to less visible risk factors, such as driver fatigue. If you feel tired and worry that this could affect your ability to focus on the road, it is smart to avoid driving.
Unfortunately, many drivers take to the road even though they feel tired, whether they have to go to work or do not realize how drowsiness could negatively affect their driving abilities.
The prevalence of traffic collisions due to fatigue
According to Health.gov, driver fatigue resulted in 2.8 accidents for every 100,000,000 miles traveled during 2020. Regrettably, this does not reflect a change in comparison to 2017, which saw the same rate of drowsy driving collisions. Based on accident data, drowsy driving results in thousands of crashes and injuries on an annual basis. It is pivotal for drivers to focus on this issue and stay off the road when they are too tired to drive safely.
Avoiding accidents caused by driver fatigue
When it comes to preventing drowsy driving, a number of strategies can help. Drivers with sleep apnea should seek treatment, and all drivers should try to get a sufficient amount of sleep each night. Driver fatigue can occur for other reasons, such as taking certain medications, alcohol consumption, driving for an extended period of time and working a very difficult shift.
In the wake of a traffic collision, going over the details of the accident is paramount. If you determine that another driver’s drowsiness or negligence contributed to the accident, take a firm stand for your rights.
