driving without sleep enough can be very dangerous. As much as do under the influence of alcohol. Although there is a difference between the two facts. The number of traffic accidents caused by drunk drivers has been greatly reduced in recent years, while there is no difference in the other case.
This is because the awareness campaigns on the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol have paid off. There are especially two measures that work. On the one hand, the increasingly explicit publicity about the consequences of traffic accidents. And, on the other, the controls in which random tests are carried out on drivers.
Unfortunately, there are hardly any campaigns on the effects of fatigue when driving. Also, this is not something that can be measured with something as simple as a breathalyzer. And also keep in mind that it is not an option that drivers can choose. That is, we can choose not to drink before driving, but we cannot always decide to sleep well. For all this, it is a more serious problem than it seems, as a team of Australian scientists has well explained, both in a study as in an article for The Conversation.
The dangers of driving without enough sleep
To drive, no matter how mechanical it may seem to us, it is important that we have all our senses on the road. But unfortunately, this is complicated if we have not slept enough.
According to the General Directorate of Traffic of Spain (DGT)sleepiness intervenes, directly or indirectly, in between 15% and 30% of traffic accidents. Similar the percentage dumped by the Australian Motor Associationwhich indicates that approximately 20% of car accidents They are related to fatigue. Besides, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administrationn (NHTSA, in English) of the United States, It says that 50,000 people are injured each year. due to problems related to lack of sleep.
All this is due to several reasons, according to the DGT. To begin with, when drowsy driving, we decrease the reaction time in the face of danger, so it is more likely that we have an accident. Also concentration is decreased and consequently, distractions increase. Besides, decisions are made more slowly and more mistakes are made.
On the other hand, the muscles are more relaxed and movements are slower when moving the steering wheel or stepping on the pedals, for example. That leads to actions being more automatic and it is difficult to react to unforeseen situations.
Nor can we forget that the altered senses and perception. This, added to certain behavior changesit can be very dangerous.
And, finally, it is possible that micro dreams. In fact, according toI Harvard Medical School, 250,000 drivers fall asleep every day. This, logically, could be fatal.
It is not easy to find solutions
A driver’s alcohol levels can be easily measured. However, there is no way to analyze how much you have slept. Just in case there is a traffic accident, you can analyze the driver’s situation and decide if drowsiness has been a trigger. In fact, some countries have come to legislate in this regard.
For example, in New Jersey, in the United States, they have the maggie law. This establishes that a person is not qualified to drive if they have slept 0 hours in the last day. However, there are those who consider that it is too permissive a law, which would exempt anyone who had slept for a single hour.
It has been proven that if you have fallen asleep less than 4 hours, the chances of an accident increase up to 15 times. On the other hand, the risk is doubled if you sleep between 4 and 5 hours regarding someone who has had adequate sleep before driving.
It is clear that solutions must be sought. But it’s not easy. What about people with insomnia, with children who wake up crying or with those who work at night? The solution is complicated, but you have to try to find one. At least, as far as possible, that “if you drink, don’t drive” should be expanded to “if you’ve slept badly, either”.