Driver fatigue is a major safety issue in retail transportation. Data claims that 25% of truckers admit to falling asleep at the wheel at some point in their careers. Driver fatigue leads to major accidents on highways. Also, it’s a major threat to driver health and driver well-being. Most drivers who fall asleep on the road don’t swerve or hit the brakes at the critical moment and end up crashing. That’s why driver fatigue leads to grave injuries and causes delays in the delivery of shipments.
Data also shows that accidents caused by driver fatigue usually happen from midnight to 02:00 AM, 04:00 AM to 06:00 AM, and between 2 and 4 noon. Different factors make drivers lose control of their truckers, such as sleep deprivation, alcohol consumption, substance abuse, boredom (being alone in the vehicle), age (older adults are more likely to ‘dip’), etc.
At Bay and Bay, we employ effective fatigue risk management techniques to ensure that our drivers are always up and awake behind the wheel. This way, they’re always alert, react quickly to oncoming traffic, are aware of surrounding hazards, and are less likely to be involved in accidents.
4 Driver Fatigue Risk Management Tips
Did you know that drivers who are about to fall asleep know that they’re getting sleepy? They try to ‘fight’ their drowsiness for some time before dropping headfirst onto the wheel. Well, here are 4 ways drivers can avoid falling asleep:
1. Always Plan First
Always get enough sleep before hitting the road (at least 7 hours of rest). Don’t drive when you’re sleeping, and always plan to take little breaks every 2 hours on the road.
2. Notice Warning Signs
Notice these early warning signs of driver fatigue:
- Yawning a lot
- Blinking frequently
- Changing your sitting position
- Can’t keep your eyes open
- Feeling your head nodding
Most importantly, if you forget a portion of the road, it’s a major sign that you’re sleeping due to driver fatigue and need to catch up on your sleep.
3. Take Frequent Breaks
Don’t try to reach your destination in one go. Take your scheduled breaks to give your body the rest it needs. Keep in mind that opening a window or turning the music up won’t prevent driver fatigue.
4. Park Somewhere Safe
Always park where you’re safe from traffic. Drive some coffee, lock the doors, set the alarm for when you have to start driving again, and take a brief stroll after waking up so you can go on your way fully fresh.
Conclusion
In light of all this discussion, the law dictates that truck drivers get a 30-minute break after driving constantly for 8 hours. That’s how we can ensure driver health and avoid roadside accidents. At Bay and Bay, we take care of the house of service by employing all necessary fatigue risk management.