Drunk driving and fatigued driving have some significant similarities. This is important to note because many people will drive when they are tired, even if they would never consider driving under the influence. They need to know that both activities affect the driver in similar ways, and both are therefore dangerous.To start with, a fatigued driver may have worse reaction times. Their mental processing slows down, and they can overlook key details. It may take them longer to react to a light turning red or to traffic slowing down ahead of them, for instance. This is very similar to how a drunk driver can also have delayed reaction times, sometimes leading to a crash.

How else does fatigue affect someone?

Beyond reaction times, fatigued driving can seriously affect a driver’s:

  • Judgment
  • Attention span
  • Physical coordination
  • Decision-making abilities
  • It can also affect their vigilance in being a defensive driver. In order to be a defensive driver, someone needs to be alert and awake, carefully paying attention to traffic around them, and anticipating mistakes that others may make. But someone who is excessively tired and at risk of nodding off behind the wheel is not likely to be as vigilant about defensive driving, so they open themselves up to risks that they would not face if they got more rest before getting behind the wheel.Even if you avoid fatigued driving yourself, you could certainly be injured in an accident caused by another driver. Take the time to carefully look into all of your legal options to seek compensation for medical bills and more.