Feeling fatigued or exhausted is common for adults. Most people have a difficult time balancing job responsibilities with household obligations. When they have to compromise on what tasks they fulfill, sleep is often the lowest priority.
Many people burn the candle at both ends without considering the health and safety risks that come from chronic exhaustion or profound fatigue. Failing to get enough rest can cause medical consequences. It can also increase the likelihood of a motor vehicle collision.
There are three main ways in which fatigue can increase the risk of a car wreck.
1. Falling asleep at the wheel
Some people are so exhausted that they fall completely asleep while driving. They lose control of the vehicle and may end up going off the road or swerving into an oncoming lane of traffic.
As many as one in 25 drivers may have fallen asleep at the wheel at least once in the last 30 days, according to self-reported data. Many others may have experienced microsleeps that only lasted for a few seconds. They may not have even realized that they dozed off at the wheel.
2. Driving poorly due to fatigue
Some experts compare fatigued driving to drunk driving. They note that exhaustion causes many of the same issues as alcohol for motorists.
Those who are quite tired may have a hard time remaining focused. They may experience a reduction in their decision-making capabilities and may also have an increased reaction time when something changes abruptly in traffic. Diminished driving capabilities can be the deciding factor between whether a minor incident turns into a crash or not.
3. Losing emotional control
One of the consequences of fatigue is emotional dysregulation. People who do not have adequate sleep may struggle to control their emotional reactions.
Those who may have a tendency toward angry outbursts could experience road rage if they drive while feeling particularly fatigued. Road rage incidents can lead to traffic collisions and other poor outcomes, including interpersonal violence.
Understanding what factors could contribute to motor vehicle crash risk can help people make better safety choices. Those involved in collisions caused by exhausted drivers may have reason to hold the driver at fault accountable for letting their exhaustion affect their driving capabilities.
