In a world where getting as much accomplished as possible is a hallmark of success, it should come as no surprise that some people skip out on sleep so they can be productive. While this might seem admirable to some, it’s actually a very dangerous trade-off.
People who don’t get enough sleep can suffer significant cognitive and physical effects. These can lead to the person being unable to drive safely.
1: Lack of sleep can lead to impairment-like effects
While most people can function normally if they miss an hour or two of sleep, there comes a point where lack of sleep produces impairment-like effects. A person who’s been without sleep for 18 hours has similar symptoms as someone who has a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .05%. By 20 hours, they’re experiencing the same effects as a person with a .08% BAC, which is legally impaired.
2: Other factors can contribute to fatigued driving
Lack of sleep isn’t the only thing that can lead to fatigued driving. Another common cause is being awake when the body should be sleeping. For most people, this is mid-afternoon and overnight. This issue is a particularly serious issue for people who do shift work. Driving at night also comes with the risk of highway hypnosis, which is typically caused by the repetitive sight of oncoming headlights.
People who are struck by a fatigued driver may suffer from serious injuries that require considerable medical care. They may opt to pursue a compensation claim to help them reduce the financial challenges they’re facing because of the crash. Assistance from someone familiar with these matters can be beneficial.
