Avoid driver fatigue

May 23, 2013 by Alastair Sloane

Asleep at wheel

Driver fatigue is commonly thought of as falling asleep at the wheel. However, falling asleep is an extreme stage of fatigue. You can be fatigued to the point of having your driving impaired well before you ‘nod off’ at the wheel. Fatigue kills. In 2001 driver fatigue was identified as a contributing factor in 42 fatal crashes and 498 injury crashes. This represents approximately 11 percent of fatal crashes and 6 percent of injury crashes.

How to stay alert:

Get plenty of sleep before a long drive
Take regular breaks – once every two hours and when you get sleepy
If you need to nap, don’t set yourself a distant goal, pull over and rest for up to 40 minutes
Use caffeine strategically to increase your alertness
Eat sensibly, avoiding large meals
Share the driving
Play music or wind down the window to help keep you alert
Don’t drink and drive
Avoid driving, or take extra care driving between midnight and 6am since the human body is most susceptible to fatigue during these hours
Do not speed

Supplied by MTA

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