Tragic tiredness – the reality of driver fatigue
Brought to you by ESB Safe Driving Bureau
Tragic tiredness can apply to you! Although most of us will not fly a plane or sail a ship for ESB, thousands of us drive a vehicle either privately, on business or on a daily basis. How many of us, whilst driving have yawned, felt restless or even nodded off for a “split second”?
If we’re honest, most of us will have answered YES to experiencing some or maybe all of the above symptoms on occasion. If this is the case, most of us have therefore experienced and survived the effects of Driver Fatigue.
What is driver fatigue?
People often think that driver fatigue means falling asleep at the wheel. Falling asleep, however is
an extreme form of fatigue. You can actually be fatigued enough to impair your driving long before
you “nod off ” at the wheel. Travelling at 100km, your vehicle travels over 100 metres in just 4 seconds. How much damage do you think you can do by “nodding off ” for a few seconds?
What are the warning signs? Get to know the warnings signs. You can’t fight fatigue, if your body needs sleep, it will take it. You shouldn’t be behind the wheel if you’re experiencing:
- minor aches and pains, light headache, tired eyes
- light boredom or fidgeting
- drifting of attention, tenseness, nervousness
- occasional yawning, drowsiness, nodding off
- difficulty concentrating, missing traffic signs.
How do I know if I’m too tired to make a trip?
You probably won’t know – that’s the problem. Don’t drive long distances after a day’s work. Likewise, be warned about the early start to beat the traffic. You may be tired before you start and your internal clock will be saying that you should be asleep.
What are the best ways to stay alert?
You should never try to fight fatigue. But there are some precautions you can take to avoid distractions and boredom at the wheel between breaks.
Keep fresh-air circulating through the car:
A stuffy environment can make you drowsy.
Share the driving:
Even a short break in the passenger seat can revive you for another stint.
Eat light, fresh foods:
Sandwiches and fruit are ideal snacks for drivers. Avoid heavy, fatty foods, which hasten the onset of tiredness, and don’t be tempted to have alcohol.
Keep children amused:
Nothing is more tiring or distracting than bored children squabbling in the
back seat.
Take regular breaks on long journeys:
A five-minute petrol break every couple of hours isn’t enough.
- Plan to stop for at least 15 minutes every two hours.
- Stop sooner if you feel tired.
- Get out and stretch your legs.
There may be an underlying medical condition which is contributing to your persistent tiredness/fatigue. For example, Sleep Apnoea is the medical name for interruptions in breathing during sleep. Symptoms include:
- high blood pressure
- heart disease
- memory problems
- irritability
- impotence
- personality change
- lapses in concentration.
Information courtesy of Brake, the road safety charity www.brake.org and Awake Ltd. Live Well, Sleep Well www.awakeltd.info.
