Which of the following is identified as a contributor to traffic accidents?

• A. Fatigue
• B. Weather
• C. Traffic Density
• D. Road Surface Condition

Answer: (A)

Fatigue degrades how a driver processes information and responds to the road. When someone is tired, reaction times slow, attention wavers, and judgment can blur. This means hazards may be detected later, braking or steering responses are delayed, and staying in the lane becomes harder. Patrol work and long shifts—especially at night or with irregular sleep—increase the likelihood of fatigue and even micro-sleeps, where a driver momentarily drifts off without realizing it. While weather, traffic density, and road surface condition also influence crash risk by affecting visibility, traction, and decision-making, fatigue is singled out because it directly undermines the driver’s ability to operate the vehicle safely, often without any external cue.