Whether you are driving during the day or at night, fatigue is always a possibility. It can sneak up on you when you are least expecting it, creating potential dangers. Here are our favorite tips for combating fatigue!
Here are a list of symptoms of fatigue:
• Chronic tiredness
• Slow reflexes/responses
• Moodiness
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Sore or aching muscles
Any of these symptoms can affect the way that you drive. Not only is it dangerous for you, but for others around you. Realizing that you are fatigued and having the ability to pull over on your own terms is important.
There are a number of things that can cause fatigue, such as: lack of sleep, emotional stress, boredom, grief, or certain medications.
“Research from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health shows that over 30% of American workers aged 30-64 are short of sleep. The National Sleep Foundation recommends that healthy adults sleep seven to nine hours per day, but a recent survey found that 30% of civilianemployed adults (approximately 40.6 million workers) reported average sleep duration of six hours or less per day. It’s not known precisely where the truck driver population sits in terms actual hours of sleep per day, but it’s probably statistically similar, if not worse.” (Truckinginfo.com)
There are many steps that you can take to combat fatigue. Try to get an adequate amount of sleep each and every night. Secondly, maintain a healthy diet. With irregular meals, your body sometimes may become fatigued. Try a light snack before you go to bed to help your body achieve the best sleep possible. Third, take a nap when you can. Even if it’s 15 minutes long, the impact will help you at the end of the day. Fourth, avoid medication that indicates that it may cause drowsiness. And last, recognize the signs of drowsiness. If you begin to frequently yawn, you’re having troubles seeing, or you feel tired—pull over before you hurt yourself or someone else!
Driver fatigue is a serious issue and we hope that with these tips, you are able to recognize the signs and combat it.