Driving While Fatigued

Every year Springfield Officers work motor vehicle accidents that are caused by drivers falling asleep on the road. Counting the surrounding area, I can remember four fatal accidents this past year all attributed to the driver of the vehicle falling asleep and crashing (tip was originally from October 2002).

This is such a preventable accident. Just don't drive if you can't stay awake. If there are additional drivers in the vehicle, switch out with someone else or, if by yourself, pull over in a safe place and nap for awhile until you can safely drive again. Studies have shown that fatigued drivers have perception / reaction times approximately equivalent to a drinking impaired driver, and we know how bad an intoxicated person can drive. The risk is not worth the time saved by continuing on while sleepy.