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Microsleep at the wheel: woman crashes her car into a garden fence!
Two accidents caused by microsleep recently occurred in Mühldorf am Inn. Police warn against drowsiness at the wheel.
Microsleep at the wheel: woman crashes her car into a garden fence!
On the night of Saturday, December 6th, a traffic accident on Trostberger Straße in Mühldorf caused a stir. A 58-year-old woman from the Mühldorf district was driving her VW Touareg when she apparently fell asleep at the wheel and left the road. Their vehicle crashed into a garden fence. Fortunately, the driver was uninjured in this incident, so only property damage was caused, which is estimated at a mid-five-figure amount. According to the police investigation, microsleep was the cause of the accident and they issued a strong warning about the dangers of driving while overtired. A similar accident happened in Polling on Friday, December 5th, which was also caused by fatigue.
The police appeal to all road users to honestly examine themselves before driving. A quick look in the mirror and an honest self-test to see whether you're really fit to drive can perhaps help prevent serious consequences. Anyone who gets behind the wheel when they are overtired is not only putting themselves in danger, but is also violating Section 315c of the Criminal Code, which can result in fines or imprisonment as well as the loss of their driving license.
Fatigue at the wheel – an underestimated risk
A topic that has come into focus more and more in recent years is fatigue at the wheel. How ADAC reports, overtiredness and microsleep regularly lead to tragic accidents. In 2023, 1,902 traffic accidents with personal injuries due to fatigue were documented in Germany, with 3,010 people injured, 42 of them fatal.
What's particularly alarming is that many drivers often don't take the signs of fatigue seriously. Burning eyes, frequent yawning and difficulty concentrating are common warning signs. The so-called microsleep, which can occur even with your eyes open, can also pose a fatal danger to other road users. One second of distraction means a blind flight of around 28 meters at 100 km/h, which can have fatal consequences in a critical moment, like this ACE points out.
Prevention is crucial. Going into your journey well-rested, taking regular breaks and keeping an eye on your internal clock are crucial steps against microsleep. Additional supporting technologies such as drowsiness warning systems in many new cars can help before it is too late.
The police and road safety experts strongly emphasize that the responsibility lies in the hands of the drivers. A conscious approach to your own fitness and the conditions in which you ride should be a mandatory part of every ride. Because as the current accidents in Mühldorf and Polling show once again: fatigue is not a risk that should be underestimated.