Driving While Fatigued May Not Be Illegal, But It Is Dangerous

Although those most likely to drive while drowsy or fatigued are commercial truck drivers and late-night shift workers, anyone can be a drowsy driver. All it takes is a late night, lack of sleep, or “burning the candle” at both ends to put motorists at risk of a serious or fatal accident.

A 21-year-old Michigan woman was hospitalized for non-life threatening injuries after a one-vehicle rollover accident in Big Rapids Township. The preliminary investigation revealed that she fell asleep at the wheel and lost control of the vehicle.

A U-Haul truck struck a railing and an overpass pillar on I-44 near Elgin, Oklahoma. Police said the driver fell asleep at the wheel and veered right, first striking the railing and then crashing into the pillar. The driver escaped unharmed.

An investigation by police in Saugerties, New York determined that a 27-year-old who was driving a pick-up truck fell asleep behind the wheel before he veered into oncoming traffic and hit a minivan. The pick-up truck then continued, striking a second vehicle head-on. The driver of the second vehicle suffered neck and back injuries; the other 6 people involved in the incident, including four children, were not injured.

Police in Dougherty County, Georgia reported that a two-vehicle crash was the result of one driver falling asleep behind the wheel. Both vehicles overturned in the collision. The at-fault driver was treated for minor injuries; the other driver was not injured.
These accidents illustrate that driver tiredness and fatigue is an ongoing problem on our roadways. The major problem is that tiredness and fatigue can often affect your driving long before you ever realize that you are getting tired. Therefore, it is important to recognize these signs:

• Frequent yawning and blinking
• Crossing over the median or in another lane
• Variation of speed and breaking too late
• Misjudging traffic situations
• Closing eyes for brief moments or eyes going out of focus
• Not remembering driving the last few miles

Not recognizing these warning signs can be deadly for you and other motorists. Don’t put yourself and others at risk. The only reliable defense against driver fatigue is uninterrupted sleep for at least six to nine hours each night. Make sleep a priority. It could save your life!

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