When you hit the road, it is best if you are in peak mental and physical condition. This is one of the best ways to ensure a safe drive. One of the easiest ways to stay in good health is through a proper sleep schedule.
Unfortunately, this means sleep disturbances, insomnia and sleep deprivation can all impact your ability to drive. But in what ways?
Your sleep quality and amount
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention examine the impact of sleep on driving. The quality and amount of sleep you get impacts almost every aspect of your life. It affects everything from mental clarity and concentration to your temperament. It even impacts you physically. For example, people who get less sleep tend to fall ill more often.
The more sleep you get, the safer your driving experience will tend to go. On the other hand, if you get too little sleep, it can have a negative impact on your ability to drive safely. Sleep deprivation and other forms of sleep disorders often rob you of your ability to get a restful night’s sleep. It may interfere with your ability to sleep eight hours at a time, too.
What does sleep deprivation cause?
Unfortunately, when you get too little sleep, it can have a heavy impact on you. Some issues that stem from sleep deprivation include:
- Poor concentration
- An inability to focus
- Struggling to identify danger
- Trouble staying awake
The latter can cause particularly dangerous problems. This is especially true for those driving on the highway, where you can travel the distance of a football field in 3 seconds or less. To learn more about these dangers and how they can impact drivers of all description, consider speaking to an attorney.