Driving when you're tired can kill
Fatigue causes hundreds of accidents each year.
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Higher risk of collisions
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Slower reaction times
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Reduced alertness
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Serious injuries and death
Driver fatigue related content:
Tiredness can be extremely dangerous
Everyone knows you shouldn’t drive feeling tired, but too many people in Scotland still put lives at risk every year.
Collisions are 50% more likely to end up in death or serious injury. Why? When you’re asleep, you don’t brake or try to avoid the collision.
This leads to more severe high-impact collisions.
What you need to know
- Fatigue was identified as a contributory factor in 17% of all fatal road collisions in Scotland
- It impairs performance, increases reaction times and reduces attention
- Very little sleep can affect your driving in the same way as having a drink
- Drinking coffee or having a walk only acts as a short-term measure
- To avoid putting lives at risk, you should safely pull over and have a rest
What causes tiredness?
A simple lack of sleep is usually the main problem, but there are other reasons you can become sleepy while driving.
- Unusual sleep patterns from shift working
- Natural body clock dips at certain times, for example:
- early afternoon following on from lunch (2pm-4pm)
- early morning for overnight workers (2am-6am)
- Drinking alcohol
- Medicines that cause drowsiness
- Driving a long distance after a full day’s work
The dangers of driver fatigue
- There’s a much higher chance of a high-impact collision
- This can lead to serious injuries – for you and other road users
- Driving tired causes slower reaction times
- It also reduces concentration and alertness
Who’s most at risk?
Things like time constraints and bad weather mean too many people still drive when they’re tired, but some people are at a higher risk of falling asleep when driving. For example, if you:
- Drive for work daily
- Drive for long periods on dual carriageways and motorways
- Regularly do shift work
- Suffer from any sleep-related disorders
Tips to avoid driving tired
If you already feel tired, then don’t start your journey. When you do set off, here are a few simple things to keep in mind:
- Plan rest breaks throughout your journey (15-20 minutes every two hours)
- Always respond to the signs of being tired
- Don’t just put down the window or turn up your music – these methods only work for a short time
- Don’t rely on vehicle technology to keep you awake – it doesn’t work
- Just stop in a safe place, put your seat back, and have a nap
Danger signs
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Yawning
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Heavy eyelids
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Head nodding (‘microsleep’)
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Eyes rolling
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Unable to concentrate
Medical conditions
If you have a sleep-related condition that could affect your driving, you need to tell the DVLA. If you don’t, it could lead to a large fine – and even prosecution if you’re in a collision.
Remember, some medicines for coughs, flu and hayfever can cause drowsiness too.
Other disorders can also make you drowsy. These include:
- Sleep disorders
- Sleep apnoea
- Insomnia
- Narcolepsy