Make sure you take the proper steps to stay awake and vigilant while on the road.
Driver fatigue is estimated to be the cause of up to 20% of road fatalities. Most of these accidents occur during regular sleeping hours. Here are a few ways to recognize when you are feeling fatigued and prevent driver fatigue in the future.
Symptoms of Driver Fatigue
Of course, yawning, having heavy eyelids, and feeling tired are symptoms of fatigue. However, there are some other symptoms to be aware of. If you are daydreaming while you are driving, you may be fatigued. You may also slowly increase or decrease your speed while driving. You may also feel bodily stiff. Fatigue has an effect on your emotions as well. You may feel emotionally unmotivated or impatient. Be wary if you are feeling impatient; you don’t want to let your impatience turn into road rage. Recognize that you are feeling irritable because you are tired and pull over if you think that you will become a danger to others on the road.
How to Beat Driver Fatigue
The best way to prevent driver fatigue is to make sure you get a good night’s sleep before setting out on the road. It’s also a good idea to try not driving for more than ten hours. Take breaks every two hours to make sure that you are moving your muscles and increasing your blood flow. If you are doing all this and you still feel fatigued, pull over and take a 15 minute power nap. This short nap can give your body a jolt of energy that it needs to finish a trip safely. If you ever find that your driving is impaired or you are falling asleep at the wheel, then pull over immediately! Your safety and the safety of others on the road more important than anything.
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Tags: driver fatigue, health, safety