As a trucking accident attorney with over 33 years of experience, I have seen some horrific accidents due driver fatigue and a thing called "The moth effect".  I recently handled a trucking accident case in Oklahoma where a semi tractor struck three different vehicles that were parked on the edge of a highway due to mechanical problems.  The underlying cause of this type of accident is commonly due to a tendency for humans to be drawn to a bright light or "something shiny".  This is particularly true at night.  Like moths to a flame, truck drivers and other motorists are attracted to bright lights and flickering sunlight.  When drivers are getting fatigued, the eyes don't process all of the information about how close vehicles are to the shoulder. In addition, drivers tend to drive where they look.  So, if they look to the shoulder to see a parked vehicle, they may veer that direction just enough to strike the vehicle.    

Experts theorize that fixating on objects causes a person to forget and disregard all the other factors that go into driving a vehicle including maintaining lane position.  This in turn causes drivers to aim for the objects they are observing.  This phenomenon has been studied all the way back to B2 pilots in World War II.  Pilots would tend to fixate on other aircraft and fly towards the lead plane.  

I currently represent the family of a man who was struck by an 18 wheeler in Sequoyah County, Oklahoma. He was changing a flat tire when the semi struck him and pinned him between the semi and his own truck.  Unfortunately, he did not survive the collision.  

I always tell my clients, my family, and anyone who will listen to try to never stop on the shoulder of a highway if possible.  It is better to drive on a flat tire to the nearest exit than to take the chance on being a victim of a "moth effect" accident on the highway.