Drowsy driving serves as a major issue for many drivers across the nation. Unfortunately, this dangerous form of driving puts people’s lives at risk every day.
On top of that, drowsy truckers specifically have a huge impact on the overall safety of drivers on the road. And worse still, their own industry may contribute to instances of drowsy driving.
Drowsy driving risks
The CDC discusses the risks associated with drowsy driving. Drowsy drivers can easily get into crashes with other cars because of the lapses in judgment or even consciousness that occurs when someone is too tired to function properly.
Truckers pose an extra danger due to the size and weight of their vehicles. For those factors alone, anyone who ends up involved in a crash with them could end up seriously injured or even dead.
How the industry makes it worse
Unfortunately, the industry itself contributes to the number of drowsy truckers on the road. Many industries incentivize cramming as much work as possible into one day. This encourages drivers to skip out on sleep in order to pack more deliveries in.
On top of that, these companies do very little by way of ensuring that the culture does not encourage drowsy driving, either. Unfortunately, many truckers believe it a rite of passage to drive while drowsy. They also have a heavy belief in wakefulness tips and tricks, which do not always work and do not work in the long term.
Combined, these factors easily result in more drowsy truckers on the road. In turn, this leads to more crashes and the potential for a rising number of fatalities.