There are several reasons that can contribute to a motor vehicle accident. One reason commonly cited is driver fatigue. As a matter of fact, the National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) have made more than 180 safety recommendations on this issue alone over the years. Not only can general lack of sleep be a contributing factor, but medical conditions or general living environment can also play a part in creating driver fatigue.

Now, investigators for the Brevard County prison van crash believe that driver fatigue may have had something to do with the fatal motor vehicle accident that killed the 47-year-old Melbourne driver last month.

A friend of the driver told investigators that shortly before the crash occurred, he was speaking to the van's driver on the phone. The Melbourne man had apparently recently finished driving for over 11 hours and complained to his friend about being very tired.

Investigators reviewed the man's driver logs, but there wasn't a log available for the day of the crash or the previous day recorded. The company the man worked for does have GPS tracking systems on all of its vehicles and those records will also be reviewed.

It appears that the man was not wearing his seat belt at the time of the accident. However, the van's airbag had been deployed. Tests were performed to see if alcohol or drugs played a part in the accident, but those results have not been made available.

Accidents due to driver fatigue are deadly. In this particular tragedy one man was killed -- that is not always the case. Sometimes the number of people killed in a single incident is much higher. If you are behind the wheel of a motor vehicle and start feeling drowsy, don't try to push forward. It is better to stop at a designated rest area until you feel refreshed again. That single moment of a delayed reaction because you are too tired can not only impact your life, but also the lives of those you are sharing the road with.

Source: FloridaToday.com, "FHP probes driver fatigue's role in fatal prison van crash," Don Walker, Jan. 18, 2012