Can Fatigue Seriously Impair Driving Ability?

Can fatigue seriously impair driving ability? Fatigue can absolutely impair driving, for a number of reasons. Statistics show that being awake for 24 hours has the same effect on you as having a blood alcohol content of 0.10%, well above 0.08%, the legal limit for blood alcohol content. This means that if you’re driving after being awake for 24 hours, it’s worse than driving drunk. And, it doesn’t even have to be a full 24 hours. It could be just a bad sleep the night before.

If you’re tired in any manner, it can seriously impair you. Driving while fatigued can slow your reaction time. It can impair your ability to think clearly and to make good decisions. According to the CDC, an estimated 1 in 25 adult drivers aged 18 years or older report having fallen asleep while driving in the previous 30 days. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that drowsy driving was responsible for 72,000 crashes, 44,000 injuries, and 800 deaths in 2013. However, these numbers are underestimated. Up to 6,000 fatal crashes each year may be caused by drowsy drivers. Do you ever find yourself blinking, yawning, drifting from your lane, or hitting a rumble strip? You should consider pulling over until you feel more awake.

Another thing that impairs driving abilities is texting. It has been shown that, if someone is driving while texting, it is almost three times as dangerous as driving while intoxicated. Even if you have a hard time putting down your phone, there are ways to lessen the danger of using your phone while driving. Car mounts that attach to the dash or to an air conditioner vent can hold your phone upright. As a result, you don’t need to take your eyes off the road as much or as often.

Have you been affected by someone driving while fatigued or in an accident? Give us a call at Simpson Law Group, we have experienced car crash lawyers. We’re going to help.