Sleep is an essential function that allows our body and mind to recharge and prepare for the next day. The average adult needs 7-10 hours of sleep per night to stay healthy physically and mentally. Anything less can result in physical health defects, such as weakened immunity and higher blood pressure and can be detrimental to cognitive functions such as concentration and memory.
An AA research campaign found that 37% of respondents had continued to drive whilst over-tired. Drivers may attempt to overcome their fatigue by winding down a window, turning up the music, taking a quick walk or splashing cold water over their face. However, when put to the test, none of these countermeasures were proven to be effective.
RoSPA estimate that fatigue is a factor in 20% of all incidents on UK roads and a factor in 25% of incidents resulting in fatality or serious injury. The Department for Transport predicts that shift workers and night drivers are more than 5 times more likely to have a fatigue-related collision. Unfortunately, due to the nature of such incidents, they tend to be worse due to the lack of reaction time and the driver’s inability to take any corrective action.
When driving fatigued you may experience sudden episodes of sleep or drowsiness, known as microsleeps. These episodes may only last a few seconds but, when travelling at high speeds, you will have travelled a significant distance with no one in control or able to stop the vehicle.
Driving whilst tired is simply too risky from a safety, financial and legal perspective. Business drivers and fleet managers must accept and understand that they cannot turn a blind eye to this common problem. Therefore, to avoid running the risk of driving whilst fatigued, see below for some of the common signs that you might not be fit to drive, and for ways to tackle fatigue if and when you’re caught out during your travels.
Signs of driver fatigue:
- Frequent yawning.
- Eyelids drooping/feeling heavy.
- Not remembering the last few miles driven.
- Frequently drifting onto rumble strips.
- Nodding head and possibly waking up with a jolt.
Ways to tackle driver fatigue:
- Ensure you obtain sufficient quality sleep prior to your journey.
- Avoid driving in the early morning, especially between 2am-6am when our alertness is naturally at its lowest.
- Take a nap before you set off.
- Change drivers – assuming there is a 2nd driver.
- Drink a caffeinated drink and immediately nap for 15–20-minutes.
- Pull over to a roadside hotel or somewhere safe and secure to have a longer sleep.
Driving for business:
As a business driver or fleet manager, fatigue must be taken seriously: the personal repercussions and financial implications can be severe. Prevention doesn’t necessarily have to break the bank. By simply having clear policies and procedures, and fair work culture, you can make a significant difference. To saves lives, and to reduce the amount of working time lost through illness, the following steps can be considered:
- Assess staff to understand where the problems are; their extent, impact and causes.
- Run educational and awareness programmes.
- Put in place/update or amend policies and procedures.
- Encourage a cultural shift, to being fair and understanding.
Having a comprehensive set of policies and procedures allows you to identify and prepare for adverse situations. For instance, what happens if a driver has a collision – was fatigue recorded as a contributory factor? What happens if an employee comes in feeling tired? What happens if someone is working a night shift and has a long commute afterwards?
Once you have conducted an assessment, the problems that exist in your business will be apparent.
The next step is to make all necessary changes to policies and procedures whilst incorporating the relevant cultural changes to ensure staff are supported and encouraged to speak up when issues such as fatigue arise.
Interested in learning more?
Need more advice on how to support and enhance your fleet policies and the safety of your business drivers? IAM RoadSmart are here to help, and support you in ensuring compliance with the law.
Get in touch and speak to us. A Toolbox Talk on driver fatigue could be a great first step in giving your staff the knowledge they need.
