Driver fatigue is a common danger for long-haul drivers. Driving while exhausted significantly increases the risk of a crash – it makes us less aware of what is happening on the road and impairs our ability to respond quickly and safely if a dangerous situation arises. In fact, it is believed to contribute to 30% of road crashes. That’s one out of every three road accidents.
What causes driver fatigue?
There are a few major causes of driver fatigue:
- A lack of quality/quantity of sleep
- Driving at times of the day during which you’d normally be sleeping
The consequence of both of these is a build-up of sleep debt. This is essentially sleep you ‘owe’ yourself. The only way to repay this debt is to sleep. Until you re-establish a pattern of regular and sufficient sleep, you are more likely to be at risk of being involved in a fatigue-related accident.
4 groups most at risk of driver fatigue
- Young drivers: The combination of inexperience and night driving
- Shift workers and those working extended hours: Shift workers are six times more likely to be in a fatigue-related crash, whether at work (operating machinery or vehicles) or while commuting
- Commercial drivers: Long distance driving, often at night
- Business travellers: Drivers suffering from jet lag and crossing time zones often suffer from restricted and/or poor quality sleep
6 factors that will increase the likelihood of driver fatigue
- The length of time you’ve been awake (especially if it’s more than 17 hours)
- The time of day: Your body and brain have a biological clock (circadian rhythm), which influences how alert or drowsy you are at certain times of the day
- The quantity and quality of your last bout of sleep
- Your level of physical or mental activity at the time (e.g. long, boring stretches of road make it difficult to maintain alertness and vigilance)
- The presence of untreated sleep disorders (e.g. obstructive sleep apnoea or narcolepsy)
- Sedative drugs
9 warning signs for a fatigued driver
It is very difficult for drivers to accurately assess their own level of fatigue. The ability to self-assess becomes increasingly impaired as you get more fatigued. If you, or your drivers, notice any of the following signs, you must stop and rest.
- Difficulty focusing, frequent blinking, or heavy lids
- Daydreaming, wandering or disconnected thoughts
- Trouble remembering the last stretch driven
- Missing exit or traffic signs
- Yawning repeatedly or rubbing your eyes
- Trouble keeping your head up
- Drifting from your lane, tailgating, or hitting the side of the road
- Feeling restless or irritable
- Poor judgement and slower reaction time
Sources:
http://www.optalert.com/news/driver-fatigue-symptoms-cause-and-effects
http://www.care-drive.com/info/news/news-44.html
