Anyone can be at risk of getting involved in a drowsy driving crash during daytime or nighttime. Fatigued and drowsy driving is common among truck drivers who are on the road for extended hours over a long period of time.
To prevent drowsy driving crashes among truck drivers, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has hours-of-service rules that prohibit drivers from remaining on the road after a certain number of hours if they have not stopped for a rest. Yet regular motorists can also cause drowsy or fatigued driving accidents.
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety emphasizes that drivers need to recognize the signs of drowsy driving so that they know to stop for a break. Of course, it is better to avoid any kind of drowsy driving in the first place. AAA also offers safety tips for avoiding fatigued driving. I want to tell you more about what AAA has to say.
Know the Signs of Drowsy Driving
If you cannot stay awake behind the wheel, or if you are too fatigued to drive safely, it is time to stop your car at a rest area or at a local hotel. AAA highlights that drowsy driving symptoms are not just limited to falling asleep at the wheel, although having trouble keeping your eyes open is certainly a sign that you should not be driving until you have gotten some rest.
Other signs of fatigued driving can include difficulty focusing on the road, daydreaming or having wandering and disconnected thoughts, drifting into another traffic lane or onto the shoulder, yawning a lot, rubbing your eyes, feeling restless behind the wheel, feeling irritable, or having difficulty remembering any road signs or markers you passed recently. If you are fatigued, you could be at risk of falling asleep and causing a deadly accident.
Prevent Drowsy Driving in the First Place
While you should certainly know how to recognize signs that you are too tired to be driving, it is better to avoid having to recognize those signs at all. You can prevent drowsy driving by doing the following:
- Get sufficient sleep the night before you get behind the wheel—anywhere from six to eight hours;
- Do not drive at a time when you are usually asleep (like overnight);
- Always stop for breaks every two hours; and
- Drink your caffeinated beverage of choice, recognizing that it will take about 30 minutes from the time you drink a cup of coffee for it to take effect.
Give Me a Call to Get Started on Your Claim
Drowsy or fatigued driving accidents should never happen. When motorists are too tired to drive safely, they should pull off the road to prevent other motorists from sustaining serious or fatal injuries in collisions. Yet drowsy driving accidents happen all the time, and people get hurt.
I want to make sure you take the necessary steps to seek financial compensation for your losses. After a drowsy driving crash caused by another motorist, you may be eligible to obtain compensation for your hospital bills and medical expenses, and you may be able to receive compensation to make up for your lost wages.
You may also be able to seek compensation for your pain and suffering, and for other non-economic losses. I’ll Make Them Pay!® Call my law firm’s office today at 877.614.9524 for help with your car crash claim.