Which statement best describes fatigue's impact on driving?

• A. Slows decision making, increases crash risk, and can cause irritability.
• B. Improves reaction time.
• C. Only affects nighttime driving.
• D. Has no impact on driving.

Answer: (A)

Fatigue slows how your brain processes information and how quickly you respond, which directly raises your crash risk. When you’re tired, noticing hazards takes longer, decisions take more time, and your reactions to changing speeds or traffic situations are delayed. This can lead to poorer lane control, delayed braking, and misjudging gaps in traffic. Fatigue can also affect mood, causing irritability or reduced patience, which makes it harder to handle stressful driving conditions. You can even experience microsleeps—brief periods of inattention lasting a few seconds—without realizing it, which is especially dangerous on the road. This isn’t limited to nighttime driving; fatigue can impair driving at any time if you’re sleep-deprived. It doesn’t improve driving ability, so if you’re tired, the safest choice is to stop and rest or postpone the trip.