Have you ever felt the jolt when you nod off at the wheel for just a split second? You are instantly awake again, aware that you were almost asleep behind the wheel. In fact, you may have been asleep, but not for long enough for it to impact your driving.

This should be an indicator to pull over and get off of the road. However, many people will simply continue driving. They may not think it's optimal to drive while they're fatigued, but they certainly don't think it's all that dangerous. This leads to the issue being underreported because many people don't think of it as a problem.

It's similar to drunk driving

The reality, however, is that fatigued driving is quite similar to driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Perhaps the biggest impact that it can have on someone's driving ability is that it increases their reaction times. Like alcohol, fatigue makes you react more slowly than you would otherwise. It can also cause you to overlook important factors – like the movement of traffic around you. A tired driver may simply not be as alert and ready to react to conditions on the road near them.

Of course, in the most serious cases, a fatigued driver may actually fall asleep behind the wheel. Once again, this is very similar to a drunk driver, who could pass out while driving. Substances may not have been involved with a fatigued driver, but the lack of control over the vehicle is the same.

What are your options after an injury?

Have you been injured in an accident caused by a fatigued driver? If you have, you need to know about all of your options to seek financial compensation.

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