Prevent falling asleep at the wheel

While we don’t like to think about it, road accidents claim more than a thousand lives every year.

In 2019, as many as 1,738 people were killed on UK roads.

And while some accidents are not preventable, the true tragedy is the number of lives lost every year as a result of crashes which could have been avoided.

The AA Charitable Trust has looked in detail at the numbers, conducting a survey of 20,561 drivers to discover how fatigue really translates onto UK roads.

They found as many as 13% (2,673 people) had fallen asleep while driving at some point in their lives.

The National Sleep Foundation emphasise just how dangerous driving when you’re sleep-deprived can be.

They report that driving when awake for 18 hours has the same impact on the brain as someone with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.05%. Meanwhile, driving after 24 hours awake equates to 0.10%.

The AA found that young drivers (aged 18-24) were arguably the most at risk of having an accident while behind the wheel. In most cases, this was as a result of overconfidence, rather than a lack of ability.

Other groups of drivers who may regularly fall victim to driving fatigue included:

• Workers with rotating night shifts
• Commercial drivers
• People with untreated sleep disorders

And while these particular people might be the most at risk, it’s important to remember that anyone can be affected by tiredness on the road.

Regardless of age, gender or experience, it’s important everyone gets the right amount of rest.

By contrast, some lifestyle choices can also be a cause of tiredness. While these can’t be rectified in an instant, there are more concrete steps you can take to reduce their chance of causing you risk.

These choices most commonly include:

• Lack of sleeping pattern
• Drug and alcohol use
• Exercising too late
• Dietary choices

And then there are those causes of fatigue which fall somewhere in the middle. While these factors are technically things you could avoid doing, realistically they’re also a pretty integral part of your life.

• Driving for work
• Inconsistent shift patterns
• Workload management
• Supporting your family

Just as with most physical conditions in life, driving fatigue can be caused by a number of both preventable and unpreventable factors. In the case of the latter, it makes it a lot harder to fight – but there are always steps you can take to help.

Perhaps one of the easiest ways to guarantee your body is getting the right types of nutrients is by taking a good look at your diet. Just as your car needs the right kind of fuel to function properly, so too do you. Some of the best foods for boosting your energy levels are things like:

Bananas
Sweet potatoes
Eggs
Dark chocolate
Yoghurt

Stay hydrated
While it might be tempting to stock up on highly caffeinated drinks like coffee, you need to make sure you’re also getting plenty of water. While coffee will give you a brief buzz, it’s a diuretic – meaning it will dehydrate you.

Plan rest stops
Make sure you pick out plenty of stops along the way. Ideally, these should be no more than 2-3 hours apart. You don’t have to stop for too long.

Switch in and out
If your trip is particularly long, it would make sense to swap shifts with at least one other driver. Halving the load will make things much easier for both of you.

Knowing when not to drive
If all else fails, it’s important you have a strong understanding of your own body and its capabilities.

Falling asleep behind the wheel is classified as dangerous driving, meaning you’re liable to face serious prosecution if it’s proven that you’ve done so.

The nature of the penalty will be dependent on the severity of any accidents cause and can lead to:

• A 14 year prison sentence
• A driving ban for a minimum of 2 years
• Anywhere from 3-11 penalty points on your licence
• Loss of your vehicle
• Social and moral ramifications of your actions

Source: Roadwise

You are also liable to face a fine of up to £1,000 if you have a medical condition that affects your ability to drive, but which you haven’t reported to the DVLA.

The conditions which are included under this umbrella are:

• Any form of sleep apnoea syndrome which causes excessive sleepiness
• Narcolepsy or cataplexy
• Any other condition which has caused prolonged bouts of sleepiness lasting for more than three months

Source: GOV.UK

If you’re really not sure if you need to report your condition, don’t take a chance. Get in contact with the DVLA and talk them through it. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

For more information on road safety, please visit https://www.hendycarstore.co.uk/driver-fatigue-essential-road-safety-guide/

 

Picture: Pixabay