Fatigue caused crashes are on the rise and agencies are encouraging the public to give some serious thought to knowing when you are too tired to drive. According to the National Safety Council, drowsy driving is similar to driving under the influence of alcohol, impacting reaction times and the ability to stay focused on the road. “Operating a vehicle safely requires a person’s full attention and focus,” shares Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “Fatigue physically and mentally impacts the abilities of a driver – it has effects on a driver’s attention span, judgment, coordination and reaction time.” In Colorado, there has been a 12 percent increase in fatigue crashes since 2023 which might not seem like much but the percent increase over the last 4 years is over 38 percent. Anyone that notices signs of drowsiness while driving are urged to find a safe place to pull over and take a 20-minute nap before assessing whether you are safe to continue or not. For more information, visit www.theNSF.org.
