Truck driver fatigue leads to drowsy driving crashes

It is important for everyone to get enough sleep. Not only is it good for our health, but it is essential for keeping us and others safe during daily activities, including driving. Truckers must be especially careful to get enough sleep, as a semi-truck crash can cause major destruction. Sadly, some truckers in Houston will make the risky decision to drive while fatigued. This could cause a drowsy driving crash that injures or kills another motorist.

Your circadian rhythm

We generally feel sleepy between midnight and 6:00 a.m. and again from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. This is known as our circadian rhythm. If possible, we should try not to drive during these times. However, some truckers choose drive overnight when traffic is lighter, even if it is during one of these natural dips in their alertness. This can lead to a drowsy driving crash.

Note medication side effects

Many medications list drowsiness as a side effect. These can be prescription medications or over-the-counter medications. Truckers should not drive under the influence of a medication that causes drowsiness. Doing so could cause a motor vehicle accident. One study reports 17% of trucker respondents who were involved in an accident stated they had used an over-the-counter drug at the time of the collision.

Alertness tricks rarely work

Many truckers believe they have a trick up their sleeve should they get drowsy while driving. They may drink a cup of coffee, play loud music or roll down the window for fresh air. However, these tactics rarely work and could cause a trucker to be overconfident in their ability to drive while they are drowsy, leading to a drowsy driving accident.

Truckers must avoid drowsy driving

It is up to truckers to avoid drowsy driving. It can easily lead to a truck accident. Truck accidents have the potential to be catastrophic due to the sheer size disparity between a fully loaded semi-truck and a standard automobile. Those in Houston who are injured in a truck accident will want to learn more about their rights and options including whether filing a personal injury lawsuit is right for them.