Driving without rest, a too-common risk that can cause accidents

When we get behind the wheel, we usually focus on all the elements that will allow us to set off safely. But there is something we normally don’t take into account and that can cause us trouble if we’re not careful. A study by the CEA Foundation has just been made public , which presents the results of a report on the impact of tiredness and lack of sleep on driving. The results of this study are worrying and deserve our reflection.

According to this report, “Sleep and fatigue: what are the habits of Spanish drivers?“, Spaniards are not very clear about what can happen as a result of driving while tired. In particular, the report points to a lack of awareness of the effects of certain medications on sleep patterns and to ignoring the rest period every two hours of driving. It also highlights the lack of rest before starting a long journey, which is often undertaken without having rested enough beforehand.

The results reveal worrying figures: around 60% of Spanish drivers have at some point experienced a microsleep, and this figure rises to 70% when it comes to the sensation of having dozed off at the wheel. This is worrying, but not only because of the possibility of having an accident as a result. Even if an accident causes no major problems, if it is proven that the driver responsible fell asleep, there may be criminal consequences.

Tiredness is behind many road accidents that could be avoided by resting every two hours of driving. Among the penalties, the driving licence can be withdrawn for 10 years and a sentence of up to 5 years in prison can be imposed, which is something to think about. To drive safely, if you are taking any medication that may cause drowsiness, it is better to leave the driving to someone else. At a minimum, you need to be properly informed and aware of all the risks of driving while drowsy.

One of the effects of experiencing this drowsiness is the possibility of a microsleep episode, during which the driver falls asleep for two or three seconds, closing their eyes and no longer perceiving the road. That time is enough to lose control of the car and cause an accident.

Around 40% of accidents have fatigue as one of their causes, so you must be careful and not become complacent, even on familiar routes such as the one from home to work and back. Heat, cold, and the intense physical and mental activity of the working day or of leisure time can bring on a brief episode of involuntary sleep, so the driver’s state of fatigue must be monitored and, when in doubt, it is better to rest for a moment before getting behind the wheel.

At some point, cars will be equipped with safety systems that detect driver fatigue and sleepiness, but until then, we must do it the old-fashioned way and be aware that it is necessary to be rested and alert when driving.

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Source | CEA