|
Driver fatigue is a serious problem and results in many thousands of road accidents each year. It is at present not possible to calculate exactly how many road accidents are sleep related, this is because its very difficult to acurately assess whether fatigue was a factor in a road accident. However, research shows that up to 21% of accidents on monotonous roads, such as motorways, in the UK were fatigue related.
Tiredness reduces reaction time (a critical element of safe driving). It also reduces the ability to concentrate so that the you perform attention-based activities (such as driving) less well. The speed at which information is processed is also reduced by sleepiness and the quality of decision-making will be affected too.
It is clear that drivers are aware when they are feeling sleepy, and so make a conscious decision about whether to continue driving or to stop for a rest. It may be that drivers who persist in driving underestimate the risk of actually falling asleep while driving. Or it may be that some drivers choose to ignore the risks (in the way that drink drivers do).
An advanced driving course can help improve your concentration and awarness which can help to make you more aware of the onset of driver fatigue.
- Who is most at risk
- Young male drivers, truck drivers and also company car drivers along with shift workers are most at risk of falling asleep while driving. However, any driver traveling long distances or when they are tired is at risk of a sleep related accident.
- Time of Day
DID YOU KNOW?
The early hours of the morning and the middle of the afternoon are the peak times for fatigue accidents. Also long journeys on monotonous roads, such as motorways, are the most likely to result in a driver falling asleep.
- Types of Accident
- Sleep related accidents tend to be more severe, possibly because of the higher speeds involved and because the driver is unable to take any avoiding action, or even brake, prior to collision.
There are difficulties in determining the level of sleep related accidents because there is no simple, reliable way for an investigating police officer to determine whether fatigue was a factor in an accident. This results in varying estimates of the levels of sleep related accidents.
A study of road accidents between 1987 -1992 found that sleep related accidents comprised 16% of all road accidents, and 23% of accidents on motorways. Research by the TRL found slightly lower proportions of sleep related accidents: 9%-10% of accidents on all roads, and 15% of accidents on motorways involved driver sleepiness. In this study, 29% of drivers reported having felt close to falling asleep at the wheel at least once in the previous twelve months.
- The Law
- It is not a specific offence to drive when tired, however a driver is more likely to commit a driving offence whilst tired. This may be as significant as causing death by dangerous driving and there has recently been a successful conviction of a driver who fell asleep at the wheel.
- The Highway Code
- Driving when you are tired can greatly increases your accident risk. To minimise this risk:
- Make sure you are fit to drive. Do not undertake a long journey (longer than an hour) if you feel tired.
- Avoid undertaking long journeys between midnight and 6am, when natural alertness is at a minimum
- Plan your journey to take sufficient breaks. A minimum break of at least 15 minutes after every two hours of driving in recommended
- If you feel sleepy, stop in a safe place. Do not stop on the hard shoulder of a motorway
- The most effective ways to counter sleepiness are to take a short nap (up to 15 minutes) or drink, for example, a cup of tea or coffee. Fresh air, exercise or turning up the radio may help for a short time, but are not as effective.
- Holiday and Travel Companies
- One of the times when individual drivers may drive in the early hours of the morning is when they are catching, or returning from, an early flight or ship/ferry journey. Drivers returning from holidays on long haul flights, or coming off ships and ferries also often drive home after having had very little sleep in the previous 24 hours. Holiday companies, airlines and shipping lines should consider what advice and information they could offer to their customers, particularly as they sell alcohol to their passengers, which exacerbates the risk.
- Combating Driver Fatigue
- Most of the things that drivers do to try to keep themselves awake and alert when driving are ineffective, and should only be regarded as emergency measures to allow the driver time to find somewhere safe to stop. Drinking at least 150 mg of caffeine and taking a nap of around 15 minutes are the only measures that help to reduce sleepiness. But even these are temporary measures; sleepiness will return if the driver does not stop driving within a fairly short period of time.
The safest option is for drivers to avoid driving when sleepy, when they would normally be sleeping or when they are ill or taking medication which contra-indicates driving or using machinery. It is crucial that drivers plan journeys, especially long ones involving driving on motorways or other monotonous roads. Drivers should:
Try to ensure they are well rested, and feeling fit and healthy (and not taking medication which contra-indicates using machinery), before starting long journeys.
Plan the journey to include regular rest breaks (at least 15 minutes at least every two hours)
If necessary, plan an overnight stop
Avoid setting out on a long drive after having worked a full day
Avoid driving into the period when they would normally be falling asleep
Avoid driving in the small hours (between 2am and 6am)
Be extra careful when driving between 2pm and 4pm (especially after having eaten a meal or drunk any alcohol)
If feeling sleepy during a journey, stop somewhere safe, take drinks containing caffeine and take a short nap.
|
