While we know that fatigued driving in the road transport industry is more complex than a driver not having enough sleep, the police have released a statement about the importance of resting before driving following a truck rollover on the Brisbane Valley Highway, Coominya. The incident happened in June and was attended to by officers from Lowood Station. The truck driver fell asleep whilst driving a truck which was loaded with general freight. Queensland Police urged drivers on their website to rest before driving, saying that the type of truck could of weighed over 40 tonnes and is a dangerous machine to be driving while tired. No other vehicle was involved in the incident and thankfully no one was injured or killed, which police described as a “miracle”. On their website, police said this should serve as a reminder to all drivers, but particularly truck drivers to ensure they have plenty of rest before, during and after a long drive. They also reminded drivers to plan their stops ahead of a long trip. Fatigued driving is a complex issue that doesn’t involve just driving without resting. Driving long hours, shift work, lack of sleep and sleep apnoea are some of the issues that can contribute to fatigued driving. Look out for the following symptoms of fatigue and stop as soon as safely possible and rest.

• yawning
• sore or heavy eyes
• stiffness and cramps
• slower reaction times
• tendency to daydream
• lack of concentration on your driving
• driving speed creeps up or down
• impatience
• impaired driving performance

Driving under the influence of alcohol has been likened to driving fatigued. In fact according to research, being awake for 17 hours has the same impact on your driving as a blood alcohol concentration of 0.05. Going without sleep for a full 24 hours is the equivalent of driving two times over the legal alcohol limit. According to The Transport Accident Commission (TAC) driving while fatigued or tired can cause,

• slower reaction times
• lack of concentration – errors in calculating speed and distance are common
• reduced vigilance and poor judgement
• nodding off – even for a few seconds can result in dire consequences

Source: http://www.tac.vic.gov.au/road-safety/safe-driving/tips-and-tools/fighting-fatigue Ultimately the only solution for fatigue is sleep. To prevent fatigue here a few guidelines which may help

• get a good night’s sleep before heading off on a long trip
• don’t travel for more than eight to ten hours a day
• take regular breaks – at least every two hours
• share the driving wherever possible
• don’t drink alcohol before your trip. Even a small amount can significantly contribute to driver fatigue
• don’t travel at times when you’d usually be sleeping
• take a 15 minute powernap if you feel yourself becoming drowsy

For more visit www.tac.vic.gov.au/road-safety/safe-driving/tips-and-tools/fighting-fatigue.