Driver Fatigue

A media advertising campaign was carried out over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend which focused on the dangers of Driver Fatigue. Driver fatigue is a condition that is brought on by an insufficient amount of rest within a specific amount of time, resulting in loss of concentration and the risk of a driver falling asleep behind the wheel of a vehicle.

Research by the Road Safety Authority indicates that if a driver closes their eyes for 4 seconds while travelling at a speed of 100kmph, or 63mph, they will have travelled a distance of 111 metres without being in control of the vehicle they are driving.

Driver fatigue is not usually referred to in accident report forms at present, but research across the world suggests that this may be something that has been overlooked to date. The European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) state that driver fatigue is conservatively estimated to be a factor in about 20% of road crashes in Europe. According to VicRoads Victoria, Australia, 21% of fatal crashes were thought to be fatigue-related in 2003 and about 30% of severe single vehicle crashes in rural area are believed to be linked to driver fatigue.

Driver fatigue has also been linked to a condition known as sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a disorder characterised by pauses in a persons breathing. Each episode lasts last long enough for the sufferer to miss one or two breath and this occurs repeatedly. A severe case can see a person having up to 5 of these episodes per hour. This results in a person never reaching a level of deep sleep, due to the level and frequency of the constant disruptions. There are many treatments now available for Sleep Anpea but the problem may like in the fact that a person may not be aware that they suffer from the condition.

There are ways to avoid Driver Fatigue. The main rule that we should all be aware of is that we should never drive when you are fighting sleep. As drivers we have a responsibility not just to ourselves, but to our families and to all other road users. Driving while fighting fatigue can produce similar effects as a person who is driving under the influence of an intoxicant, such as delayed reaction times.

The only cure for driver fatigue is rest. Opening the car windows and turning up the radio will not solve the problem. The best option is to pull in somewhere safe and rest for a minimum of 15 minutes. It is also recommended to consume a caffeine related beverage, such as coffee and to get out of the vehicle and walk around to stretch the limbs. However these are short term measures, and there is no substitute for proper rest and remaining focused when in charge of a vehicle on the roads.