If you get behind the wheel after too little sleep, you may be at an increased risk for an accident. Drowsy driving increases a driver’s response time to potential dangers out on the road. In fact, research shows that a person who has stayed awake for at least 18 hours reacts in a way that is similar to an intoxicated driver. This means that, behind the wheel, a fatigued driver may be just as dangerous as a drunk driver.
Whenever possible, avoid fatigued driving by keeping the following in mind:
- Get enough sleep before driving. If you are too tired to drive safely, have another person take the wheel, or pull over and take a nap in a safe location.
- Avoid driving late at night. The body is naturally more drowsy late at night. Thus, you are at an increased risk of causing an accident due to fatigued driving between the hours of 12 and 4 in the morning.
- Avoid driving during the first hour after waking up. Studies show that the brain may still be drowsy up to an hour after waking from sleep.
- Do not drive after taking medication that induces drowsiness.
Experts warn that trying to stay awake by relying on caffeine, turning on the radio, or opening the window are not effective ways to combat fatigued driving. Do your part to keep everyone safe out on the road by always observing proper safety precautions when driving.
Contact Us
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident caused by a fatigued or otherwise impaired driver, you may be able to take legal action to gain compensation for your injuries and other losses. For help, contact the Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyers of Salpeter Gitkin, LLP, at 954-467-8622.
