How Microsleeps Can Affect Vehicle Control

Fatigue can creep up on us and be hard for motorists to recognize how much their driving ability has diminished. Fatigue can be hard for others to see on the road, unlike other obvious hazards like a damaged roadway or an impaired driver. A sleepy driver can look attentive but be slower to react, paying less attention, or struggle to cope with variable traffic conditions.

The Dangers of Driver Fatigue are especially threatening when a driver’s level of fatigue is increased, while still driving. Fatigue affects a number of performances needed for safe driving, including concentration, decision making, visual attention and reaction time. Knowing these effects can help to account for the fact that a fatigued driver might not react to a recognized roadway hazard.

How Fatigue Can Reduce Driver Awareness

There are a number of information sources that must be attended during driving. The driver must pay attention to traffic on the road, traffic signals, pedestrians, road signs, lane markings, and the conditions on the road. Fatigue can be a challenge to sustain that level of focus over a longer period.

A significant worry is a decrease in alertness. One of a tired driver’s most frequent mistakes is simply looking straight ahead at the road, but not really seeing it. Therefore, even if important information is within the driver’s line of sight, it can be missed.

Fatigue can affect:

Attention – Driver is unable to hold attention for long periods.

Observation – Significant changes in traffic may not be noticed.

The ability to make decisions – A tired driver might not make sound judgments.

Reaction time – More time may be needed to respond to an unexpected event.

Vehicle control – Fatigue will distract from maintaining speed and steering.

The impacts of these effects can be particularly problematic on highways, where drivers are continually filtering information and vehicles are traveling at greater speeds.

How Brief Sleep Episodes Affect Driving

Fatigue can cause short lapses of alertness or consciousness. These are known as microsleeps and can be very dangerous as the driver may not have consciously wanted to go to sleep.

The consequences of a brief moment of inattention can be severe when driving at speed. While that time, the driver can be working the steering wheel without reacting to lane changes, curves, traffic lights or other dangers.

Inconsistent vehicle control can also be caused by fatigue. The motorist can inadvertently wander inside a lane, cross over the lane marking, accelerate or decelerate or not stay within a designated safe position on a roadway.

Such patterns are particularly troublesome when they become recurring. If the driver is having trouble making the vehicle stay properly in place, he or she is likely already quite lackadaisical.

Work Hours and Their Effect on Driver Alertness

A long drive isn’t necessarily a sign of fatigue. A driving schedule, sleep pattern, job, and amount of time spent driving can all lead to drowsy driving.

Road trips can often present extended periods of mundane work. Commercial drivers and others who are working for long driving hours could also have long hours to meet that involves managing rest periods and driving times carefully.

Legal counsel appointed to investigate a car accident where a driver is suspected of being drowsy could review his/her driving history prior to the accident. If applicable, the following information may be relevant:

• Work schedules
• Driving logs
• Delivery schedules
• Time records
• Rest periods
• Employment records
• Electronic vehicle data
• Witness observations
• Communication about the driver’s timetable

These records can be helpful in creating a timeline of the driver’s actions prior to the accident.

The time of the accident can also be helpful. If the accident happens after a long period of driving or when the driver, for some reason, is not in a state of sleep, it might be worth further investigation, but it does not necessarily mean that the driver was fatigued at the time of driving.

Identifying Warning Signs Before a Crash

One of the challenges with driver fatigue is that drivers may not know how fatigued they are. It may be the case that the driver thinks he or she has solved the problem by opening a window, turning up the radio or having a caffeinated drink, only to find that he or she is still very tired.

Some warning indicators are:

• Frequent yawning
• Problems holding the eyes open
• Difficulty with recalling some of the trip
• Running off the correct side of the road
• Failure to have exits or traffic signs
• Hard time keeping up the pace.
• Lack of focus
• Losing focus of other traffic over and over

If these symptoms become present, it’s time to pull over and let someone else take the wheel. Rest in a safe place, or find a safe place to pull over, may be more appropriate than using a temporary means to be alert.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is driver fatigue a problem?

Fatigue decreases attention, slows reaction, impairs judgment, and increases difficulties with driving a vehicle’s control.

Is it possible for a driver to become tired without falling asleep?

Yes. When a driver is awake, fatigue can impair their ability to concentrate and to react. Extreme tiredness may result in short-term loss of awareness as well.

Are long distance drivers the only motorists at risk?

No. Fatigue is not a problem that is exclusive to any driver. Extensive travel, insufficient sleep, heavy workloads, driving at night, and long drives can all make you feel drowsy.

Conclusion

Driver fatigue can impact a number of skills required for safe driving. A lack of attention, slow reactions, inappropriate driving behavior and sleepiness can make it harder for a driver to react to changing roadway conditions.

Fatigue involves more than just seeing if a driver has fallen asleep while driving. The driver’s schedule, driving time, rest periods, driver behavior, vehicle logs and events that occurred prior to the crash. Monge & Associates Injury And Accident Attorneys will take these factors into account when investigating car crashes that could have been caused by driver fatigue.