Suche
Second sleep at the wheel: risk of accident grows on the A6 near Kirchardt!
On October 5th, 2025 an accident occurred on the A6 near Kirchardt. Experts warn of the underestimated danger of drowsiness at the wheel.
Second sleep at the wheel: risk of accident grows on the A6 near Kirchardt!
A serious accident on the A6 near Kirchardt has drawn attention to the often underestimated risk of microsleep. On Sunday this week, a 22-year-old driver swerved off the road, presumably due to fatigue. As the Daily show reported, there was only a similar incident a week ago, in which four people were injured. These developments have a highlight of the alarming numbers of accidents by fatigue in Germany: in 2023 over 1,900 such incidents were registered, with 42 people lost their lives.
The number of cases of accidents, which are due to tiredness, may be much higher, because the detection of fatigue is difficult. The accident researcher Markus Egelhaaf gives valuable tips: "Do not ignore any signs of fatigue at the wheel!" A short second sleep of just one second at 100 km/h leads to more than 36 meters without control over the vehicle. Instead of relying on caffeine, a break or a short powernap is recommended.
Signs and causes of seconds sleep
Fatigue and second sleep when driving are serious dangers that can have potentially fatal consequences, especially in monotonous trips or adverse weather conditions. The ADAC emphasizes that tired drivers often do not realize when they fall into a second sleep. The most common signs are burning eyes, difficulties of concentration and unexpected speed changes. A cross -section of the causes shows that long waking phases, sleep disorders and personal biorhythms can help to reduce attention.
Another risk is the last kilometers before the finish. If there are memories of gaps or suddenly twitching, these are clearly warning signals that should be taken seriously. The statistics show that around 25 % of all accidents on German roads are due to sudden sleep!
Prevention and legal consequences
The preventive measures are to take breaks regularly and immediately park the vehicle if there are any signs of tiredness. Even if modern driving assistance systems give warning signals, you cannot replace the necessary vigilance. Future EU requirements from 2024 stipulate that all new cars, trucks and buses must be equipped with attention and fatigue warning systems- a step in the right direction!
But what legal consequences are threatened if fatigue is detected? The paragraph 315c of the Criminal Code provides sensitive money and prison terms as well as driving bans. In an example from practice, a 19-year-old lost control of his vehicle due to ignoring the fatigue sign, which earned him a fine of 1,750 euros and a license withdrawal of seven months. In the event of an accident through second sleep, comprehensive insurance usually pays, but the insurance can make recourse claims if the negligence has proven.
Conclusion: Always pay attention to the signals of your body! Fatigue at the wheel is a serious risk, and the next kilometers are often the most dangerous when vigilance disappears.