What does drowsy driving look like?
When drivers hit the road in Illinois without having gotten enough sleep, they can inadvertently create dangers for themselves and the drivers around them. Though not discussed as often as distracted or drunk driving, drowsy driving is actually among the most dangerous driving behaviors out there.
Drowsy driving, from an outside perspective, actually mimics driving under the influence or distracted driving pretty closely. All three result in the drivers suffering from similar symptoms. These symptoms can include:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Trouble driving within their lane and/or swerving
- Slower reaction times
- Erratic changes in speed or sudden braking
Because of these similarities, many drowsy drivers actually end up pulled over on suspicion of driving while under the influence.
Though drowsy driving is not currently illegal like driving under the influence or some forms of distracted driving, that doesn’t make it any less dangerous. Like distracted driving, drowsy driving can take your eyes off of the road, your hands off of the wheel, and your mind off of the task at hand. When combined, this is a perfect storm that can cause many drivers to get into crashes.
On top of that, the biggest risk of drowsy driving is that you may actually fall asleep at the wheel. Crashes with sleeping drivers tend to involve high risk injuries and even fatalities due to the driver’s inability to try preventing any serious damage.
If you are interested in reading more about topics involving personal injury, including trucking crashes and the circumstances that can lead to them, visit our web page here. You can take a look at drowsy driving and the impact that it has.