Fatigue is a safety concern for motorists. People who are tired experience temporary reductions in their cognitive capabilities. Exhausted drivers struggle to focus on safety concerns. They also often have trouble making appropriate decisions when traffic conditions abruptly change.
Perhaps the worst possible consequence of driving while exhausted is the chance of falling asleep at the wheel. How likely are motorists to fall asleep while driving?
A shocking number of drivers report dozing off at the wheel
There is no test to validate whether a driver lost consciousness while on the road. Researchers must instead rely on self-reported data, which tends to skew toward the low side. Many people do not want to admit to behavior they know is dangerous, even in an anonymous survey.
That being said, respondents answering questions about their driving habits did acknowledge dozing off at the wheel. Approximately 1 in 25 drivers has fallen asleep at the wheel at least once in the last 30 days, according to self-reported data. Some drivers fell asleep more than once.
Even when those drivers experience microsleeps that only last for a few seconds, they could lose control of their vehicles. They can swerve off the road or into oncoming traffic. Motorists may not necessarily be able to prove that another driver fell asleep, but they can prove that they did something unsafe.
Holding fatigued drivers accountable for causing car crashes can lead to compensation for property damage losses and injuries caused by wrecks. Those who cause car crashes as a result of their unsafe choices may have to provide liability insurance coverage or could face lawsuits if they cause catastrophic losses for others.
