Many people take impaired driving very seriously. They understand that it’s incredibly dangerous to drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol. They will often arrange for a ride, use a rideshare company or look for other means of transportation—such as simply walking or riding a bike.
But the same sort of emphasis on risk is not often applied to fatigued driving. Many people have driven when they’re tired, and many drivers even report nodding off behind the wheel. Researchers note that fatigued driving and drunk driving are quite similar, so why don’t people take fatigue as seriously as they do impairment?
They’ve done it many times
One potential reason could be that people tend not to drive under the influence, but they may drive repeatedly when they’re feeling tired. Someone who has a late commute home from work may feel like they’re relatively fatigued every time they drive home. Most of the time, it doesn’t cause any issues, so they start to think it’s normal, rather than realizing that they are taking a risk every time they drive.
They believe it’s necessary
Additionally, many people know that they have other options when they’re impaired, or they plan ahead. But if somebody finds themselves feeling tired or at risk of nodding off behind the wheel, they may feel that they don’t have any other options. That worker still has to drive home at the end of the day. People are busy and have tight deadlines, so they’re more likely to keep driving, even if they can tell that they’re so tired that it’s dangerous.
Unfortunately, some of these fatigued drivers will cause serious accidents. Those who have suffered injuries need to know how to seek financial compensation.
