There are many drivers who won’t hesitate to continue driving even when they’re feeling tired. They could be on a long trip, and they know they need to put in another few hours just to reach their destination. Or they could be commuting home after an exhausting day on the job.
These drivers need to take drowsy driving a bit more seriously. Some studies have found that it’s actually quite similar to drunk driving, so being overly tired could be seen as a form of impairment. This could lead to a serious car accident.
Comparing it to a BAC level
One way to look at this is by comparing fatigue to someone’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level. The legal limit for drivers is 0.08%. Even if someone hasn’t been drinking, if they stay awake for 20 hours in a row, researchers find that the level of impairment they face is similar to being right at that legal limit.
The problem is that fatigue can slow down how fast a person is able to process information, which can delay their reaction times. This is very similar to being impaired.
Both a drunk driver and a fatigued driver may not notice changing traffic conditions ahead of them, for instance, and may suddenly rear-end the next vehicle when cars begin to slow down. If they were feeling awake and alert, they would’ve easily noticed the change and applied the brakes at the appropriate time. But the delay in their reactions is what causes the crash.
You often have to share the road with both fatigued drivers and drunk drivers, so be sure you know what options you have if you suffer injuries in an accident one of them causes.