Slow reaction time, decreased awareness and impaired judgment, sound a lot like the effects of alcohol, right? Well, they’re also the symptoms of being drowsy. In other words, it is just as dangerous to get behind the wheel of a vehicle when you’re less than well rested as driving after a few drinks. One difference between the two is that it is almost impossible to determine, with absolute certainty, that the person behind the wheel was too tired to be driving in the event of an accident. When someone is under the influence of alcohol, there are blood, breath and objective tests that can determine if alcohol was the culprit. However, there are a couple of clues that can help investigators conclude that it was a tired driver behind the wheel. Usually, in a driving drowsy accident, there is only one vehicle involved, the driver tends to be alone and, there is an absence of skid marks or evasive maneuvering in the area surrounding them. Keep an eye out for the warning signs below on yourself. Trouble keeping your head up Frequent blinking, difficulty focusing and heavy eyelids Forgetting the last few miles, missing exits and traffic signs Yawning repeatedly Drifting lanes, following too closely or hitting the shoulder rumble strips Feeling irritable This time of year can be exceptionally difficult for drivers. As we lose daylight earlier, we are more likely to get tired on our way home from work in the dark. If you experience any of these symptoms, pull over, get picked up or take a cab home. "Warning Signs." Drowsy Driving Stay Alert Arrive Alive RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Oct. 2016.
