ROAD SAFTEY FATIGUE

What is Fatigue Falling asleep at the wheel of any vehicle for even a very short period of time. Why is the issue of fatigue so important? What are the dangers of Fatigue?

Dangers of Fatigue Do you know you’re four times more likely to have a fatal fatigue crash if you’re driving between 10pm and dawn. That’s because your body’s circadium rhythms are programming you to sleep.

Dangers cont Driving while sleep deprived, especially late at night and at dawn, increases the risk of having a ‘microsleep’ and losing control of your vehicle. If you fall into a microsleep and nod off at 100 km/h, you’ll travel 100 metres in just four seconds, unconscious.

Signs of Fatigue  Don’t ignore the early warning signs of fatigue: Yawning Poor concentration Tired eyes Restlessness Drowsiness Slow reactions Boredom Oversteering

Tips on avoiding fatigue-related accidents: Get a good night’s sleep before commencing a long trip. Do not drive at times when you would normally be asleep. Avoid long drives after work. Take regular breaks from driving (use Rest areas). Share the driving whenever possible. Pull over and stop when drowsiness, discomfort or loss of concentration occurs. Find out whether any medicine you are taking may affect your driving

Driver Fatigue Advertising Campaigns

The Challenge Driver fatigue causes almost 20 per cent of the annual NSW road toll. Although the majority of fatigued drivers involved in fatal crashes are males, fatigue can affect any driver. The risk of a fatal fatigue crash is highest between 10pm and 6am - four times greater than for the rest of the day. The RTA produces a comprehensive map of roadside Rest Areas in NSW. You can phone free call for the list of rest area’s.

The Campaigns The Microsleep and Circadium Rhythms campaigns encourage drivers to recognise the early warning signs of fatigue and to Stop. Revive. Survive. The Microsleep campaign was launched in December The Circadium Rhythms campaign was an extension of the Microsleeps campaign and was launched in April It highlights the danger of driving late at night and at dawn. Between 10pm and 6am your body’s circadium rhythms are programming you to sleep and the risk of a fatal fatigue crash is four times greater than for the rest of the day.

Microsleep A microsleep is a brief and unintended loss of consciousness. It can cost you your life if it happens when you’re behind the wheel. It’s characterised by head snapping, nodding or closing your eyes for more than a couple of seconds. During a 4 second microsleep a car travelling at 100 km/h will travel 111 metres while completely out of the driver’s control.

RTA Site The site has a trip time calculator that can help you calculate your travel time and help arrange rest stops.