Sometimes a good night’s sleep is hard to come by, or maybe you are pulling an all-nighter on a road trip, trying to reach your destination by morning. Feeling a little tired while driving may not seem like a big deal, but drowsy driving is a very real problem on Florida roads.
What are the effects of driver fatigue?
If you are too tired to drive, it can be as dangerous as drunk driving. Drowsy driving slows down your ability to process information and it can negatively affect your reaction time. Your judgment and vision can also be negatively affected by drowsy driving. Drowsy driving can impair your senses and abilities. If you are tired enough, you could “nod off” (micro-sleep) or fall completely asleep while behind the wheel. It is easy to see, then, how drowsy driving can cause catastrophic car accidents.
Tips to avoid drowsy driving
The best way to avoid drowsy driving is to get enough sleep before getting behind the wheel. Avoid driving after taking over-the-counter or prescription medications that cause drowsiness. If you are driving a long distance, take a rest break either every 100 miles or every two hours. If you can, you and your passenger can take turns driving. You may think that drinking coffee or an energy drink will help, or perhaps you will turn up the radio or roll down the window for some fresh air to revive you. While this might make you more alert briefly, these measures will not keep you alert enough to continue driving to your destination.
What to do if you are struck by a drowsy driver
You can take all precautions to avoid driver fatigue, but the same cannot always be said of others on the road. If you were struck by a drowsy driver, you could suffer serious injuries with long-lasting effects. You may find that more than just your health and well-being are damaged — you could also incur hefty medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering. For this reason, those who are injured in accidents caused by drowsy drivers may want to consult with an attorney to better understand their legal options moving forward.