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Why do some drivers have such slow reaction times?

On Behalf of | Oct 31, 2024 | Car Accidents |

There is a lot happening on your average road journey. There’ll be other motorists maneuvring around you, pedestrians looking to cross and hazards in the road itself, such as potholes or standing water.

Noticing them and reacting in time to avoid hitting these things is key to arriving at your destination in safety. Yet, many people’s reactions are too slow, and they fail to avoid potential hazards they should have avoided.

Here are some of the things that might explain this:

Age

Just because someone is at the older end of the spectrum does not mean their reactions are too slow to drive, but it is true for some people. Drivers need to know when it’s time to hang up the keys for good.

Alcohol and drugs

Drugs and alcohol can certainly slow people’s reaction times, as well as have other effects that harm a person’s ability to drive safely. Note that you don’t need to be over the limit or be taking something illegal for this to apply. The very first drink will slow reactions, as can some prescription drugs.

Fatigue

Whether you just got a bad night’s sleep or are worn down from months of overtime, feeling tired means you are less able to react in an instant. Sometimes the difference between crashing and not crashing is milliseconds, so even a little bit drowsy could be too much.

It’s important to examine all possible contributory factors if you are involved in a crash. Something as seemingly insignificant as the other driver looking weary might be enough to help you show they were at fault and increase the chance you get the compensation you deserve.