Driving while Tired

Driving while tired is extremely dangerous, both for yourself and other road users. Driving requires intense concentration and perception, but these are greatly reduced when you are drowsy. Your judgement skills are also impaired, which can make you slower to see potential or actual dangers and react to them. This article discusses the dangers of driving drowsy, and offers advice on avoiding it.

The Dangers of Driving while Sleepy

Driving when tired makes you less likely to be fully aware of what is going on around you. This includes both the actions of other road users and potential hazards such as pedestrians. You are less likely to spot the warning signs before it is too late, which can easily cause or contribute to an accident. This happens because your concentration is more easily broken and your judgement and perception skills are not as sharp as normal. This combination only needs to drop ever so slightly to become dangerous.

The Legal Stance on Driving Tired

The law takes a dim view of drowsy driving. If you are caught driving while drowsy or you fall asleep at the wheel, you can be charged with careless or dangerous driving. If you are involved in a fatal accident, you can be charged with dangerous driving. This can result in a prison sentence of up to fourteen years.

Dealing with Tiredness on the Road

If you feel tired or sleepy before you set off in the car, you should avoid beginning the journey in the first place. If this is not possible, you should drive slowly and carefully (under the maximum speed, but above the minimum speed limit if there is one in place). This will allow you to drive at a speed at which you can react to dangers and possible hazards if they occur. You should also plan several rest breaks to refresh your concentration. This is particularly important if your journey is going to be fairly long (for example, if you are travelling on the motorway), as it is easy to lose concentration due to the monotony. On a warm day, it is particularly easy to have your focus broken. Taking a ten minute break every quarter of an hour will go a long way towards helping you to stay focused and alert. As the advert says, “Tiredness kills”. Many road users are killed every year because drivers are too reluctant to stop en route.

Contrary to popular belief, having the window wide open will not improve your concentration levels and get rid of fatigue. Many people think that regular blasts of cool air will help them to stay alert, but this is rarely the case. Likewise, turning up the volume on the radio or CD player will do little to help your focus. In many cases, it can actually have the opposite effect, as certain beats can actually lull you into monotony and boredom.

Driving when tired and exhausted can make you a big danger on the roads as you are less aware of your surroundings. You should avoid getting in the car when this is the case whenever possible. This also applies if you are taking medication that is likely to make you sleepy (this will usually be indicated on the instructions). If you have no option but to drive, there are a few things that you can do to make the situation less dangerous, but this is no alternative to postponing the journey until you feel better.