There are certain driving decisions that are obviously unsafe. People largely recognize that they shouldn’t get behind the wheel after drinking or post to social media while driving on the highway. Other decisions may also be dangerous but do not necessarily receive the same attention and consideration as drunk or distracted driving.
Drowsy driving is unsafe, but it typically does not violate the law. Unless the fatigued driver is in control of a commercial vehicle and has been on the road for long enough to violate federal Hours of Service rules, driving while feeling tired isn’t technically illegal. However, it is still a dangerous decision that can have devastating consequences for the exhausted motorist and the others in traffic.
Drowsy driving affects capabilities
When people feel tired, they may notice several issues that affect their functional capabilities. They may have a difficult time focusing. It becomes more challenging to make decisions quickly. They may also be at risk of falling asleep with little warning.
All of those challenges can prove devastating in traffic. Fatigued drivers may cause crashes or may fail to take appropriate measures to prevent a collision from occurring. Federal researchers estimate that roughly 91,000 crashes annually are the result of drowsy driving. These collisions cause injury to roughly 50,000 people and result in 800 deaths each year.
How do people hold drowsy drivers accountable?
Unlike drunk driving, there is no test that medical professionals can administer to validate claims of drowsy driving. Unlike distracted driving, there isn’t a digital evidence trail showing that a motorist used their phone immediately before a crash.
Those hoping to hold drowsy drivers accountable for causing collisions often do not need to focus on proving drowsiness. Instead, they need to demonstrate how the driver caused the crash. Maybe they fell asleep at the wheel and crossed the centerline into oncoming traffic.
Perhaps they failed to monitor their surroundings or could not respond quickly enough to changes in traffic circumstances. It is often easier to prove that a driver was negligent rather than to conclusively show that they were too drowsy to drive safely. Those hoping to hold fatigued motorists accountable may require support as they take action after a motor vehicle collision.
Understanding how dangerous drowsy driving can be can help people make safer choices for themselves and recognize when others may have put them at unnecessary risk through questionable decisions. The team at the Tarry Law Firm, LLC, has experience helping those injured by drowsy drivers. Reaching out for guidance after a motor vehicle collision can help people reduce their long-term losses.