Fatigue - the hidden killer
Identifying and preventing fatigue to become a safer driver
Fatigue can affect anyone and is believed to be a contributing factor in at least 12 percent of motor vehicle crashes. A major symptom of fatigue is the reduced ability to judge your own level of tiredness, which puts you at serious risk of falling asleep at the wheel. When fatigued, your judgement is severely impaired, your decision making is hindered and your reactions are delayed. All of these can have fatal consequences.
Taking proactive steps to avoid fatigue
Improve your everyday habits and:
- get plenty of quality sleep before working
- seek medical advice without delay if you have trouble sleeping
- exercise regularly
- eat healthy, regular meals
- drink plenty of water.
While driving:
- plan ahead
- allow time for meal breaks and rests
- drive smoothly
- make sure your glasses (if any) are suitable for your eyesight
- wear sunglasses in bright weather
- keep your windscreen clean
- maintain the inside of your vehicle at a moderate temperature - too warm and you may doze off
- drink plenty of water
- stop every two to three hours for a break.
Get off the road immediately if:
- you find yourself weaving in your lane or drifting into other lanes
- your eyes start to play tricks on you, eg a motorway off-ramp looks like your lane, or a road sign looks like a person standing on the side of the road
- your vision becomes blurry
- you lose mental focus and become unable to concentrate for more than a few seconds
- your eyelids become heavy or difficult to keep open and may close by themselves
- your head nods or falls toward your chest
- you become drowsy or overly relaxed.
This information is provided as a general guide only, and does not cover everything in the law. It is not the source of the law.
Page created: 12 August 2008
