ALT-1 How to Avoid Driver Fatigue
Driver fatigue doesn't, at first glance, seem to be a major issue. So the driver's a bit sleepy. Who hasn't driven with a bit of a tired eye? It's a bit more difficult, but it's not that hard... or dangerous... right?
Wrong. In fact, driver fatigue can prove downright deadly. Falling asleep while at the wheel is incredibly dangerous to any driver, and though some luck out and just find themselves snoozing at a vacant intersection in the middle of the night others wind up plowing into other cars, or going right off the road.And just imagine if the driver is at the wheel of some particularly large vehicle while they sleep, such as a transport truck?Not good.
According to DrowsyDriving.orgroughly 100,000 people get into accidents from drowsy driving per year, many of which may result in deaths. And, unfortunately, these accidents and deaths could have been averted had the driver taken steps to avoid driving while close to sleep - steps that this article will cover. Read and understand them before sitting down at the wheel when your eyes are droopy, whether you're driving in the morning or at night.
- The obvious method of avoiding driver fatigue is to take the 'driver' out of the equation. When you're feeling tired, don't drive. Have someone else do the driving or stay home. Note that there's not necessarily a disparity between being a bit sleepy and snoozing with every breath: even minor lapses in judgment from fatigue can result in a crash if you're not careful.
- It's also important, when driving, to recognize the symptoms of driver fatigue - not always easy, as they have a tendency to creep up on the driver.They can includeheavy eyes, daydreaming, impatience, wavering in your lane and crossing the center line, poor reaction time and a general stiffness. If you start to suffer from these problems, consider pulling over until you're ready to drive again, or just give it up for the day and go home.
- You can also alleviate a bit of this problem by only driving at certain times of the day. Your body is best suited for driving after having a long sleep, which is, for the average person,seven to eight hours in duration. Consequently, driving at night when your body is drained of energy from a long day is not a good idea. The reverse is true for those who work at night and sleep during the day.
- Be sure to take breaks periodically. If you're driving in the same manner for a long time with little to distract your mind you're bound to start getting a bit tired, often from sheer boredom. Note break spots along your route and jump out of your car whenever possible.
- Provide your brain with a bit of stimulus. Often putting on the radio or your MP3 player and singing along is more than enough to cover this base. You can also resort to more chemically-based stimulants, like caffeine and pills, to keep you awake - though make sure these don't mess with your sleep cycle.
- Last, on long trips - say, during a vacation - try to bring along another driver who can swap with you. It also helps to have someone to talk to while driving, so long as they don't distract you from remaining straight on the road.
When in doubt, pull over. Don't hold out and try to get home, just pull over. Driver fatigue is undeniably dangerous, and you're better off being questioned about your choice of parking spot and getting ticketed than smashing your car into a concrete barrier or, worse, another car, just because you fell asleep at the wheel.
