Drowsiness Is a Red Alert: Fatigued Uber, Lyft and Taxi Drivers Can Cause Accidents

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that drowsy driving was responsible for at least 72,000 crashes, 44,000 injuries, and 800 deaths in 2013. While Uber recently implemented a policy restricting drivers from working more than 12 hours per day and boasts that they have ways of monitoring drivers to ensure they are not pushing their physical limits, lowered fares and profit incentives may actually be encouraging drivers to keep driving past safe limits. For example, the company offers bonuses for completing a certain number of rides within a given timeframe—like being promised an extra $150 for completing 35 rides in a weekend. Those bonuses can encourage drivers to work longer than they originally planned, and longer than is safe or reasonable.

Signs Of A Fatigue Drive To Look Out For

Falling asleep at the wheel is clearly dangerous, but it is impossible to predict when sleep will overtake a driver’s body. Simple fatigue detrimentally affects a driver’s ability to operate his vehicle safely, regardless of whether he actually falls asleep. Drivers are less able to pay attention to the road; their reaction times are slower, and it impacts a driver’s ability to make good decisions—all of which can contribute to car accidents or worse, fatalities.

If you’re concerned about the alertness of your driver, here are a few signs to help identify a tired driver:

• Blinking or yawning often
• Memory lapses
• Missing a turn or exit
• Drifting from lane to lane
• Driving onto the shoulder or onto a rumble strip

 If you feel like your Uber driver is fatigued to the point that he or she is a hazard to your safety, politely ask the driver to pull over and make alternate travel arrangements. You can also report the issue the Uber through the app.

Call a Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Options If You’ve Been Injured Due to a Fatigued Driver

Unfortunately, we can only control our own driving safety and even that is limited by factors that are out of our hands. Protect yourself by paying attention to the signs. If you have been involved in an accident due to a fatigued driver, you may have some remedy. Contact an experienced Car Accident Attorney of The Rybak Firm, PLLC., for a Free Consultation and Case Evaluation by calling our office at (718)307-5554 24/7 or through our online contact form.