2013

DRIVING TIRED CAN KILL Early Signs Of Fatigue WORKPLACE ROAD SAFETY DRIVING TIRED CAN KILL Early Signs Of Fatigue 2013

DRIVING TIRED CAN KILL Early Signs Of Fatigue 17 HOURS AWAKE

FATIGUE AFFECTS THE BRAIN DRIVING TIRED CAN KILL Early Signs Of Fatigue FATIGUE AFFECTS THE BRAIN Judgement Attention Visual function After listening to the TV commercial, ask your attendees to remember which part of the brain is affected by fatigue: judgement, attention, visual function. So ask them to find out what could be the warning signs of fatigue at the wheel before moving to the next slide.

WARNING SIGNS OF FATIGUE DRIVING TIRED CAN KILL Early Signs Of Fatigue WARNING SIGNS OF FATIGUE Have wandering, disconnected thoughts Can’t remember driving the last few kilometers Miss a road sign or an exit Find you have slowed or increased speed unintentionally Brake too late Can’t stop yawning Have trouble keeping your head up

CRASH RISK INCREASES WITH TIREDNESS DRIVING TIRED CAN KILL Early Signs Of Fatigue CRASH RISK INCREASES WITH TIREDNESS The involvement of driver fatigue in crashes is very hard to measure and is therefore probably underestimated. It has been estimated that fatigue played a role in 20-30 per cent of all road crash deaths and serious injuries in Western Australia between 2005 and 2007 (Source: Towards Zero p. 16). Recent research indicates that being awake for 17 to 19 hours continuously produce similar or worse levels of performance than a BAC of 0.05.

DRIVING TIRED CAN KILL Early Signs Of Fatigue THE EFFECTS OF FATIGUE Loss of alertness Drowsy driving Poor memory Bad mood Falling asleep at the wheel Loss of Alertness: It means that you can not respond quickly and safely to an emergency. You may also less efficient at controlling your vehicle, e.g. changing gears, lane tracking and maintaining constant speed. Drowsy driving: Drowsiness means feeling sleepy but not being actually asleep. You may actually fall asleep for many seconds without being aware of it. This accounts for some quite common “ran-off-the-road” crashes. Poor memory: Being fatigued will also affect your memory. For example, you may suddenly become aware that you have travelled a long distance, forgetting a delivery or a planned stop. Bad mood: Being fatigued can also make you irritable and overreact to things around you. Falling asleep at the wheel: This happens in a number of very severe single vehicle crashes where there has been no attempt by the driver to control the vehicle.

WHAT COULD LEAD TO DRIVING WHILE TIRED? DRIVING TIRED CAN KILL Early Signs Of Fatigue WHAT COULD LEAD TO DRIVING WHILE TIRED? Driving at night Having sleep debt Being a shift worker There are several causes of fatigue. Body Clock factors Your body clock programs you to sleep at night and stay awake during the day. Your body temperature drops during the night and get you sleepy; then it rises during the day to help you feel alert. 12am to 6am is the critical time. Although there are fewer drivers on the road between 12am and 6am, statistics show they are much more likely to have a crash. If you have to drive at night, you have to make up you need for sleep during the day. Sleep Factors Definition of Sleep Debt Sleep debt” is the difference between the amount of sleep you should be getting and the amount you actually get. People accumulate sleep debt surreptitiously. Studies show that such short-term sleep deprivation leads to a foggy brain, worsened vision, impaired driving, and trouble remembering. Long-term effects include obesity, insulin resistance, and heart disease. The only way to prevent fatigue is getting enough sleep. It’s the best remedy for fatigue. Seven and a half hours sleep is generally recognised as an average and normal need. Work factors Shift workers are six times more likely to be involved in a “fatigue related” road crash than other workers. Shift workers often experience both of the previous problems: they often have to drive when their body clock is saying they should be asleep and they are not getting enough sleep. These risks can be managed by a good sleep schedule. Having a long day can sometimes lead to the same kinds of problem. After 17 hours awake, the risk of being involved in a fatigue related crash doubles.

WHAT COULD LEAD TO DRIVING WHILE TIRED? DRIVING TIRED CAN KILL Early Signs Of Fatigue WHAT COULD LEAD TO DRIVING WHILE TIRED? Having a long day Health problems Driving long distances Health factors There are a number of medical factors than can affect the quality of your sleep: having medical sleep problems, drinking alcohol or using other drugs and stimulants, and being overweight. A healthy diet as well as regular exercise will improve your overall health and fitness and help you sleeping better. Long trip: please refer to the next slide.

DRIVING TIRED CAN KILL Early Signs Of Fatigue SOME TIPS TO STAY ALERT Plan your trip with adequate time to sleep, rest and eat Start your journey without sleep debt Take breaks every 2 hours Take regular power naps (20 min) Keep your car at a comfortable temperature without being too warm Eat, exercise and drink water regularly Switch drivers Sleep It’s the best remedy for fatigue. Seven and a half hours sleep is generally recognised as an average and normal need. The only way to prevent fatigue is getting enough sleep

WALGA’S ROADWISE FATIGUE PROGRAMS DRIVING TIRED CAN KILL Early Signs Of Fatigue WALGA’S ROADWISE FATIGUE PROGRAMS Driver Reviver Program Visit: www.roadwise.asn.au/resources/projects/driver Coffee Stop Program Visit: www.roadwise.asn.au/resources/projects/coffee Contact the WALGA Roadwise Driver Reviver Program, and Coffee Stop Program for more information. WALGA is WA Local Government Association which lobbies and negotiates on behalf of the 141 Local Governments in WA. Driver Reviver Program Driver Reviver is a national program which aims to reduce fatigue related crashes throughout peak periods of travel, predominantly the Easter and Christmas holiday periods when traffic volumes and crashes are traditionally high. Driver Reviver in Western Australia began over the Christmas period in 1992 at Southern Cross and has grown to involve 32 locations throughout the State. The locations generally operate during public holidays and at the beginning and end of school holidays and long weekends. Volunteers man each stop donating their time to ensure motorists can avoid fatigue and reach their destinations safely. Driver Reviver stations aim to reduce the incidence of fatigue and fatigue related trauma on the roads in Western Australia by offering a free cup of tea, coffee or cordial, a biscuit and most importantly, a chance to revive so drivers reach their destination safely. The stations are an ideal place to take a break on a long journey. They also provide an opportunity for Local Governments, police, sponsors and other road safety partners to work together to try and combat fatigue. Visit www.roadwise.asn.au/resources/projects/driver Coffee Stop Coffee Stop is a free service to the Western Australian community by participating roadhouses that has been operating since 1993. Aimed at reducing fatigue related crashes, participating roadhouses provide free coffee to drivers at the roadhouses’ cost. Participating roadhouses can be identified by signs placed at either side of the roadhouse. There are currently 42 coffee stop locations throughout the State. Visit www.roadwise.asn.au/resources/projects/coffee Sleep It’s the best remedy for fatigue. Seven and a half hours sleep is generally recognised as an average and normal need.

DRIVING TIRED CAN KILL Early Signs Of Fatigue