Fatigue at the wheel
Are you driving impaired?
Most people are aware of the dangers of drinking and driving, but they don't realize that dozing off while driving can have equally fatal consequences. Like alcohol, fatigue decreases driver reaction time and alertness, impairs judgment and increases the risk of an accident.
In fact, studies show that after spending 18 consecutive hours without sleep, your faculties are as impaired as those of someone with a blood alcohol level of 0.05%. If you are deprived of sleep for 24 hours, your faculties are as impaired as those of a person with a blood alcohol level of 0.1%.
At least 20% of Canadians - an estimated 4.1 million people - admit hitting nails while driving in the past 12 months.
Every year, tired or drowsy drivers are responsible for the deaths of more than 400 Canadians.
Why are drivers tired?
Fatigue has many causes and when it comes to driving, they accumulate and increase your risk of being involved in an accident related to fatigue at the wheel. Please note that the following factors may cause you to fall asleep while driving:
lack of sleep;
interrupted or fragmented sleep;
chronic sleep deficit (lack of sleep or poor quality sleep for a long time);
long periods of sleeplessness spent doing a task;
ignore your internal clock (eg, some people are less vigilant in the middle of the afternoon);
time of day;
unreasonable and changeable driving habits or overloaded and irregular work schedules;
undiagnosed or untreated sleep disorders;
take drugs that have a sedative effect; and
consuming alcohol when tired.
Who are the people at risk?
Driver fatigue doesn't just affect truckers and bus drivers; all drivers can feel the effects. If you drive tired, you drive impaired. The following people are at greater risk of being impaired by fatigue:
commercial vehicle drivers
new and young drivers, especially young men
people who work shifts or work split shifts
people who suffer from sleep disorders
drivers whose lifestyle affects the quality and duration of their sleep
How do I know if I am at risk?
If you have any of the following symptoms, do the only thing that can help stop driving fatigue:
Stop in a safe place to take a nap.
loss of concentration
drowsiness and yawning
slow reactions
have tired or sore eyes
boredom
be irritable
do not notice the signage
having difficulty staying in your lane
banging nails
Driving fatigue can be prevented. Always make sure you're well rested when you hit the road, plan for breaks every two hours, and avoid driving between 1 a.m. and 7 a.m., when your body naturally needs a lot of rest. First and foremost, don't drive if you are tired.
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