We’ve all been there – driving on a long trip, and suddenly your eyes are becoming heavier and heavier. You may start to pinch your leg hard, and momentarily you wake up a little from the brief burst of pain. But, you begin to realize that it’s futile, and that you need to stop as soon as possible.
Tragically, not all drivers come to this quick conclusion. Let’s discover how drowsiness works and how we can protect ourselves and our passengers from the dangers of driver fatigue.
DROWSY DRIVING CAN BE WORSE THAN DRUNKEN DRIVING
According to SSISA (Sports Science Institute of South Africa), estimates indicate that more cars crash due to drowsy driving compared to drunken driving. There should be an additional slogan, ‘Don’t be tired and drive.’
WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF SLEEP DEPRIVATION?
To be awake for 18 hours is equivalent to you waking up at 06h00 in the morning and then start driving at midnight. SISA states that being awake for 18 hours in one session is equivalent to you driving at the legal limit of 0.05% alcohol in your blood. According to Health24, driving with less than 4 hours sleep is the most dangerous, but less than 7 hours is also risky.
DO THE AUTHORITIES KNOW HOW TO HANDLE DROWSY DRIVING?
Because we are not consuming a particular substance, we tend to underestimate what lack of sleep can do. No traffic officer at a road block can test you for lack of sleep. You won’t get into a car with a drunken driver, but you probably won’t think twice about having a ride with a tired driver.
HOW DO YOU MEASURE THE LEVEL OF ‘DROWSINESS’ IN A PERSON?
The issue is that you can’t measure the level of tiredness in a person, like you can with alcohol in someone’s blood. All that you can do is to ask the driver for how long has he or she been awake? Hopefully, the answer is a truthful one.
DROWSINESS AND DRINKING ARE LIKELY TO GO TOGETHER
Drinking usually takes place in the evening after a hard day’s work. Both drowsiness and drinking working together makes driving even more dangerous.
DROWSY DRIVING IS NOT ALL ABOUT FALLING ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL
As soon as we hear about drowsy driving, we tend to get a picture of someone falling asleep at the wheel. A ‘micro-sleep’ is when you fall asleep for a second or two. Sadly enough, this can prove to be fatal. But, there is more to it.
DROWSY DRIVING DECREASES ALERTNESS
In a drowsy condition, a driver will not be alert and won’t easily notice or be able to react adequately to any potentially dangerous situation on the road.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WARNING SIGNS OF DROWSINESS?
When the following symptoms begin to happen, they should be like warning bells, telling you to stop as soon as possible. Drowsiness is accompanied by lots of yawning, and eye blinking. You will begin to daydream, and can’t keep a constant speed. You might be tailgating or starting to brake suddenly, and missing road signs.When you are experiencing micro-sleeps, it may be too late.
HOW CAN YOU PREVENT DRIVER FATIGUE?
They say prevention is better than cure, so don’t drive alone. Talking to someone will keep you awake, as well as having an extra pair of eyes watching the road with you. Try and alternate frequently with another driver. Avoid night driving as your biological clock tends to say, “It’s sleep time.” Find a safe place to stop, such as a garage, and have a short nap. People call a taxi to take them home after some drinking, but what about doing the same when you are tired?
HOW DOES THE LAW DEAL WITH SLEEPY DRIVING?
We have read how sleepy or drowsy driving is on a par with drunken driving. Yet, the law is so strict on drinking and driving that you could face jail as a result of your actions. But, what happens when it comes to drowsy driving? How can authorities deal with drowsy or sleepy driving? Perhaps, there are some cars, currently in use or in the near future, that will refuse to start the engine, depending on how quickly you can answer a question a computer asks you. This would mean a drunken or drowsy driver would not be able to think at the normal ‘brain’ speed and thus fail the test. However, some cars are being developed with this technology, but are geared only for drunken drivers.
EDUCATING MOTORISTS
Perhaps the answer to minimising drowsy driving is to expose motorists to much media information on the dangers of drowsy driving. Creating an awareness of drinking and driving is already a huge hurdle that’s been overcome.
Even if you are alert behind the wheel while driving, you still need to protect your car from any accidental damage. Have you considered taking out affordable car insurance with PMD?
Disclaimer:
This article was prepared by Eric Sandmann in his personal capacity. The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the views and opinions of Prime Meridian Direct (Pty) Ltd, FSP41040 (car insurance and life cover products). The views and opinions in the article should not be attributed to anyone but the author unless expressly stated. Nothing in this article should be relied upon as advice, this publication is presented for informational purposes only. No person should act or refrain from acting in reliance on any information found in this article, without first obtaining proper financial advice from the appropriate professional. The author makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, or completeness, of any information linked from, referred to, or contained in this article. The author reserves the right, to edit and change the content of this article.