Driver fatigue is one of the top three contributors to the road toll. Research has shown that fatigue can be as dangerous as other road safety issues, such as drink driving. But unlike drink driving, there are no laws regulating driver fatigue.
Fatigue-related crashes can happen on any trip no matter how long or short or what time of day. It’s important to think about how tired you are before driving, recognise the early warning signs when driving and know what to do to avoid driving tired.
Quick facts
- Fatigue is one of the big three killers on NSW roads
- Fatigue-related crashes are twice as likely to be fatal - drivers who are asleep can't brake
- From 2013 to 2017, more people in NSW died in fatigue-related crashes than drink driving crashes
- Being awake for about 17 hours has a similar effect on performance as a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.05
Driving after being awake for 17-19 hours is equivalent to driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.05.
Driving after being awake for 24 hours is equivalent to driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.10
Source: A. Williamson and A. Feyer 2000
Fatigue can be caused by several factors:
• Medical causes – Unrelenting exhaustion may be a sign of an underlying illness.
• Lifestyle-related causes – Alcohol or drugs or lack of regular exercise can lead to feelings of fatigue.
• Workplace-related causes – Workplace stress can lead to feelings of fatigue.
• Emotional concerns and stress – Fatigue is a common symptom of mental health problems.
There is no one size fits all solution to driver fatigue it can be a danger on long or short drives. As they say "don't trust your tired self"
Make sure you are well rested and get plenty of sleep the night before driving.
On long trips have a driving buddy and swap drivers regularly and make regular stops, at least every two hours.
If you feel tired behind the wheel, pull over in a safe place and have a power nap of no more than 20 minutes before continuing on your journey.
Additional resouce can be found at the following link https://www.chopranocerino.com/fatigued-driving-resource/
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Fatigue can be fatal