Recent studies have shown that many drivers don’t fall asleep without warning. Many drivers who fall asleep at the wheel have tried to fight off the feeling of drowsiness. These drivers will often open a window or turn up the radio to help them from nodding off. This is not effective and can have serious consequences.
The facts
Research suggests that nearly 20% of accidents on major road are sleep related
Sleep related accidents are often likely to result in a fatality or serious injuries
Commercial vehicles have a higher rate of sleep related accidents
Peak times for sleep related accidents are early hours of the morning and mid-afternoon
Men under 30 have the highest risk of falling asleep at the wheel
The Symptoms
Heavy Eyelids
Frequent Yawning
A vehicle that wanders over road lines
Varying vehicle speed for no reason
Misjudging traffic situations
Seeing things “jump out” in the road
Feeling fidgety or irritable
Daydreaming
The Advice
Plan your journey to include a 15 minute break every 2 hours
Don’t start out on a long journey if you are feeling tired
Try to avoid long drives between midnight and 6 am, a time when you are likely to feel sleepy anyway
Remember all the risks if you get up unusually early to start a long journey
If you start to feel sleepy, find somewhere safe to stop. Drink two cups of coffee or high caffeine energy dink and rest for 10-15 minutes. This allows the caffeine time to kick in
Remember – a caffeine drink or nap is a short term solution. A proper sleep is the only real cure