Cause of accident fatigue

Dangerous microsleep – how to avoid the risk

Drowsy driving is a factor in an estimated 10 percent of all traffic accidents. The so-called microsleep is particularly dangerous because it can cause serious accidents. With the help of a traffic expert, STREETLIFE will explain to you how you can recognize warning signals and prevent fatigue.

Beware of misjudgments
“For drivers, a microsleep lasts around 0.2 to 5 seconds, but it can have fatal consequences,” warns Peter Schnitzler. The traffic expert is responsible for evaluating fatigue as a cause of accidents at the German insurance group Ergo. Microsleep, the attack of fatigue in which drivers unintentionally fall asleep for a short time, is an important factor here. This also applies to Switzerland: According to the BFU Advice Center for Accident Prevention, fatigue at the wheel is a factor in around 10 percent of traffic accidents in this country.

“Anyone who drives while drowsy misjudges speeds, lacks concentration and reacts just as slowly as when under the influence of alcohol,” explains the BFU on its website. The consequences: “Drivers come off the road and crash into obstacles at high speed; the vehicles skid or roll over.”

High risk on highways or after long working days
The attacks usually occur at night or early in the morning because the internal clock is often still set to sleep. “Even if you sit behind the wheel for a long time or drive home after a long day at work, the likelihood of your eyes closing increases,” says Schnitzler. “In addition, monotonous routes, such as on motorways, heat and lack of oxygen, as well as illnesses such as narcolepsy, can promote microsleep.”

Be sure to take warning signals seriously
Dangerous bouts of fatigue are often accompanied by symptoms such as excessive yawning, burning eyes or difficulty concentrating. “Shivering, the inability to keep your eyes open and a deterioration in mood are also the first signs of fatigue,” says Peter Schnitzler. “Drivers should definitely take these warning signals seriously, as attention is already decreasing considerably and the risk of accidents is increasing.” A break is absolutely necessary when tunnel vision, unconscious changes in speed or problems staying on track occur.

A turbo sleep can help
Getting enough sleep is the best and easiest way to prevent microsleep. Drivers should only set out on longer journeys when they are well rested and fit. “At the first signs of tiredness, it is recommended to stop driving for at least 20 minutes and go for a walk in the fresh air or take a power nap,” advises Schnitzler. The expert advises against coffee, energy drinks or loud music because these supposed stimulants only have a short-term effect and would only postpone tiredness.

Does technology help?
Despite the first self-driving cars, sleeping while driving is still a long way off. “In general, autonomous driving is divided into five so-called levels,” says ergonomic vehicle expert Schnitzler. “It is only at the fifth level that the car drives itself and it would be possible to sleep while driving.”

But there is help. Many vehicles now have assistance systems (ADAS). These have been mandatory for new vehicles since July 2024. “These include, for example, so-called fatigue warning systems, which analyze the driving and steering behavior or the driver’s eye movements and draw attention to deviations using a symbol or an alarm tone,” says Schnitzler. Lane keeping and emergency braking assistants also increase safety.

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