Most people are well aware of the dangers that are associated with driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

However, not as many people realize that fatigued driving can be just as fatal. 

Like drugs and alcohol, fatigue impairment slows reaction time. It also impairs judgment and increases the risk of being involved in a collision. 

Corporal Troy Savinkoff is with the Cochrane RCMP, and he says that sleep deprivation and working irregular schedules can be a cause for unsafe driving.

Savinkoff says "I know as a new police officer I was working a lot of shift work and also as a new parent I felt like I was always tired. There is definitely that potential of being overtired and falling asleep behind the wheel."

Lack of sleep is one of the most common causes of fatigued driving. Other contributing factors include driving alone, driving long distances without rest breaks and driving through the night or when the driver normally sleeps. 

Savinkoff says that as a driver you have a responsibility and need to use your best judgement. He says "People need to look at their own personal situation. If you do feel like you're dosing off you need to stop! You need to pull over immediately and take that nap or whatever it is you have to do to make sure you and others on the road are safe."

Some warning signs of driver fatigue are constant yawning, the inability to keep your eyes focused, feeling the urge to rest your head, drifting between lanes, and not being able to keep a consistent speed. 

Savinkoff says that impaired driving continues to be the number one leading cause of fatal deaths across the country and that it is important for drivers to realize that fatigued driving does, in fact, translate to impaired driving.