Alert Today - Alive Tomorrow
One of the most common causes of road traffic accidents (RTA) is driver fatigue. It is a less serious offense than drunk driving but the consequences can be equally dangerous. Drowsy driving can in fact be fatal for the driver, passengers as well as pedestrians. Let us thus look at the causes of drowsy driving and how to avoid it!
6 Symptoms of driver fatigue
- Drooping eyes
- Constant yawning
- Restlessness
- Aching back
- Stiffness and cramps
- Absence of concentration
IF YOU EXPERIENCE ANY OF THESE, NEVER HIT THE ROAD IN THE FIRST PLACE!
If you drive when extremely tired:
¨ Your reaction time slows down
¨ Concentration levels decrease
¨ You may have impaired judgement
¨ You may even sleep behind the wheel which can be very dangerous!
PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE
Primarily goodnights 6-8 hour sleep before the trip is necessary. More steps include:
1) Avoid travelling for more than 10 hours a day: drains you physically and mentally
2) Take regular breaks on long distance trips WHETHER YOU ARE DROWSY OR NOT
3) Eat light and drink plenty of water on road trips to keep your energy levels up
4) Alternate driving with an experienced driver
5) Do not travel at the time you usually sleep unless absolutely necessary
The effort involved is minimal but it can save lives on the road.
Genesis 33:13 but he said to him, ‘My Lord knows that the children are frail and that the flocks and herds which are nursing are a care to me. And if they are DRIVEN HARD one day, all the flocks will die.”
