The holiday season is busy for a lot of people. Some might decide to skimp on sleep so they can get everything ready for the holidays. Those individuals may not think much about getting behind the wheel when they’re fatigued.
The fact is that fatigued driving can be just as dangerous as drunk driving. Fatigued drivers are more likely to be involved in crashes that can cause fatalities or catastrophic injuries.
Why are fatigued drivers dangerous?
Fatigued drivers are dangerous because they don’t have a good reaction time. The reaction time of a fatigued driver slows the more tired they are. A person who’s gone 20 hours without sleep likely has the same effects on their driving skills as a person who has a .08% blood alcohol concentration.
Contrary to what some people think, lack of sleep isn’t the only cause of fatigued driving. Instead, drivers can become fatigued by these factors:
- Driving long distances
- Driving too many hours
- Driving on familiar roads
- Driving when they’d normally sleep
- Taking medications that induce drowsiness
- Having certain medical conditions
- Working swing shifts
There aren’t any safe ways for drivers to continue driving if they’re fatigued. Temporary measures, such as drinking coffee or opening a window for fresh air, may buy them a few minutes but they need to get off the road and get suitable sleep.
Anyone who’s struck by a fatigued driver this holiday season may opt to pursue a compensation claim for lost wages, medical costs and other damages. You have limited time in New Jersey, so be sure you don’t wait too long to seek experienced legal guidance.
