While any motorist could become dangerous when operating a vehicle when drowsy, many people may think of truck drivers as prone to being fatigued while driving. Ohio residents have probably heard about the 2014 accident involving comedian Tracy Morgan and a truck driver that seriously injured Morgan and killed another passenger in the limousine. The truck driver who crashed into the limo apparently had not slept for 28 hours before the collision occurred, and this is one example that highlights how dangerous drowsy driving can be.
The accident involving Morgan represents only one of the estimated 7,500 fatal wrecks that take place each year where fatigue plays a role. Several technologies exist that could prevent accidents caused by fatigue, and many large companies are beginning to use delivery trucks with built-in systems that could avert a crash.
Forward collision warnings are a relatively common preventative tool, and this system works by detecting objects in the path of a vehicle and alerting a driver to an impending crash by flashing lights and beeping to catch the driver’s attention. Some systems can brake for a driver, and technology like this could reduce rear-end crashes by around 10 percent.
Personal vehicles also sometimes offer systems like this, and Volvo and BMW vehicles can gauge a driver’s level of drowsiness by monitoring a driver’s steering. Motorists may steer less due to tiredness, and an alert will notify a driver who begins steering less.
When a sleep-deprived driver causes an accident, those who are injured as a result may want to consider seeking compensation in civil court through a personal injury lawsuit. A victim may want to consult an attorney when trying to show that a driver’s behavior should be deemed negligent.