Everyone knows how dangerous it is to drive while intoxicated and that it is illegal everywhere you drive in Tennessee. Even if you’re not over the legal limit or .08 BAC, you can still be charged with and convicted of DUI.
A recent study published in Science Direct found that when an adult is considered slightly dehydrated they lose enough mental focus that causes them to make a wide range of mistakes while driving that are similar to those made while drunk driving.
Eleven adult males were studied while using an immobile driving simulator. The simulator was able to create real-world scenarios for the “drivers.” The participants went through three sessions, the first to get them familiar with the simulator. The second was a two-hour trip while hydrated and the third was a two-hour trip while thirsty.
The participants drank 85 ounces of fluid the day leading up to the simulations and just 16 ounces of fluid the morning of the simulations. For the dehydrated simulation, the participants consumed just 25 percent of those fluid totals.
As Lead study author Phil Watson, PhD explained to Men’s Journal:
The actual level of dehydration we produced in these men was very mild. We wanted to simulate real-world conditions, such as when you’ve had a particularly busy day and were unable to take breaks for drinks. [Just like alcohol] mild dehydration has been shown to reduce concentration, slow reaction times, impair memory recall, and produce negative effects on mood. All of these factors can impact our ability to safely drive a motor vehicle.
Cameras monitored the participants, while sensors recorded brain activity. Any behavior related to fatigue was excluded from the findings of the study. The results of the study show that minor mistakes like lane drifting and late braking were made by drivers who were slightly dehydrated, of which those mistakes are similar to someone being under the influence of alcohol while driving.
Minor mistakes increased in drivers as the simulation continued, but the frequency of mistakes was still less than those caused by being dehydrated. One of the 11 study participants had to be excluded from the results because he continued to fall asleep during the simulation process.
Dehydration causes mood change and an increased chance of distracted driving
The study is one of many that shows how dehydrations affects moods and abilities. According to a report from News-Medical & Life Sciences, dehydration can cause changes in moods for people in a large population. It’s known that your mood impacts the way you drive, especially when angry, upset, or even happy; the way you operate the vehicle can be impacted. Your mood can also be altered by a lack of hydration and the results usually aren’t pretty.
Data from a report on Medical News Today shows that 1.5% of water deprivation can contribute to anxiety, irritability, confusion, and nervousness. Enduring these negative feelings while driving can cause you to make the wrong decisions. Road rage is likelier to occur in a driver who is already upset and not a driver who has been driving with a positive attitude. The slightest indiscretion by another driver could lead to a road rage incident in someone who is already upset.
What are the symptoms of dehydration?
Dehydration is not simple thirst: it can be a potentially life-threatening condition. A person is considered dehydrated when they lose two percent of their body weight in water – a seemingly small number that is not very small at all. The symptoms of dehydration include:
- Lightheadedness
- Dizziness
- Feeling tired
- Headaches
- Cramps
- Loss of concentration or focus
All of these symptoms can cause you to make the wrong decisions when behind the wheel, leading to serious accidents that can cause injuries and even fatalities, much like a drunk driving accident. Some drivers have an increased susceptibility to dehydration compared to others, including those with the following conditions:
- Recent bouts of diarrhea or vomiting
- Diabetes
- Heat stroke
- Alcohol consumption
- Parkinson’s
- Certain mental health conditions
- Fever
- Back pain
Truck drivers face greater risk of dehydration
Many truck drivers refuse to drink a lot of water for fear of needing more bathroom breaks. These breaks cut into their driving time, which can slow delivery times, and even hurt their earnings. However, truck drivers need to hydrate more so than any other driver on the road because of the long hours they are behind the wheel. Humans can survive quite a long time without food, but cannot survive more than a couple of days without water.
Aside from purposely not consuming water while driving because of having to stop often, drivers make the mistake of blasting the air conditioning when they feel sluggish or are hot. Doing so can cause the moisture in the body to dry up, accelerating dehydration. This, along with the long hours and stress of driving in traffic, can be dangerous for truckers, and increase the risk of someone being hurt in a wreck.
Who is liable in a Pigeon Forge truck accident involving a dehydrated trucker?
Because driving while dehydrated is not a crime – like driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is – it could be considered an act of negligence, and a person who is injured in a truck accident around Pigeon Forge would need to seek justice through the civil justice system. That means filing a personal injury lawsuit against the truck driver, the trucking company, or anyone else who was responsible for the crash that led to your injuries. You can seek damages for your medical expenses, your lost wages, and your pain and suffering. If your loved one dies in a Pigeon Forge truck accident, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim, which could entitle you to burial and funeral expenses.
Were you injured in a truck accident in or near Pigeon Forge? The experienced criminal defense attorneys from Delius & McKenzie, PLLC, can investigate the incident that led to the charges and help you build a defense. Call our office, which is based in Sevierville, at 865-428-8780, or complete the contact form to schedule a consultation. We also serve clients in Seymour, Gatlinburg, and Pigeon Forge, as well as the Tri-Cities area.
Attorney Bryan E. Delius was born and raised in Sevier County, TN. He founded Delius & McKenzie more than 20 years ago, after receiving his JD from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. He is admitted in Tennessee and in several federal court systems. Learn more about Bryan E. Delius.
