Driving Tired… Why Do We Do It?

Most of us do it, regardless of how much stress we have in our lives, driving while tired or fatigued appears to be a necessary part of our daily existence. We may be undertaking lengthy journeys on a daily basis and in doing this, we are flabbergasted that, no matter how tired we are, that we make it to work or home in one piece. But why do we continue to do this, and is there anything that we can do ourselves to tackle this tiring epidemic?

The Speed Of Life

It’s an obvious, but pertinent reason. The speed of life is such that we are constantly overwhelmed with longer working hours, additional stress, not to mention the increase of traffic on the roads, that it all adds up to a hot-pot of tired and stressed drivers. The real solution to this is about looking at our own lives and finding ways to minimize these stressful circumstances. Unfortunately, we view it as necessary to keep going because when we do stop, that’s when we get unwell! But driving tired is accountable for over 20% of road fatalities. If you were to hire car accident lawyer Bill Hurst or any other reputable car accident lawyer, it’s their bread and butter- tired driving, as well as distracted driving. And this is something else that we have to consider when it comes to our own abilities behind the wheel.

Are We Overloading Ourselves?

If we drive tired then, as logic would dictate, if we are tired, then the driver next to it is, no doubt, feeling similar. We’re all in it together. This isn’t a very healthy attitude. We have no control over the other drivers, but the statistics don’t lie, over 20% of road accidents are caused by fatigue. And we know how annoying a traffic jam is at the best of times due to an accident. But if we are to address our own lives and stress triggers, then we will not just drive better, but live better. Ultimately, there are issues with infrastructure everywhere- we drive because it’s far quicker than getting the train, but if we hit rush hour traffic in the morning and in the evening, are we really better off?

We don’t take it as seriously as we should. Because driving is such an automatic function, we don’t really notice how tired we are until we realize we can’t remember the last few miles or missed the sign for a turn-off. But we need to recognize the symptoms of feeling tired, as well as addressing our own unique triggers. One solution, when you’re driving long distances, is to have a caffeine nap, and the other, more sensible solution, is to take regular breaks on any lengthy journey. But unfortunately, we don’t think about the methods of prevention until it’s almost too late, and we have a near miss.

So instead, why don’t we recognize when we feel slightly tired, and put the stops in place so we don’t feel worse?

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