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| What is a microsleep? |
| A microsleep is a brief, unintentional episode of loss of attention associated with events such as a blank stare, head snapping and prolonged eye closure. A microsleep is also known as “nodding off”. Microsleeps are unintended periods of light sleep that typically last between 2 and 30 seconds. |
| A person may not be aware that a microsleep has occurred. In fact, microsleeps often occur when a person's eyes are open. While in a microsleep, a person fails to respond to outside information. If this occurs while driving, you may not see a red traffic signal, notice that the road has taken a curve or the traffic lanes are narrowing. |
| Because one of the symptoms of fatigue is the decreased ability to judge your own level of tiredness, a typical response is to fight fatigue and try to stay awake. When a fatigued person is trying to stay awake in order to perform a monotonous task such as driving, microsleeps are likely to occur. |
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| Understanding driver fatigue |
• The most important thing to know about Driver Fatigue is that it is a silent killer. It is the experience of being ‘sleepy’, ‘tired’ or ‘exhausted’ whilst driving a vehicle.
• You may demonstrate a number of symptoms of fatigue well before you actually feel the compelling need to shut your eyes. These symptoms may include restlessness, reaching for the lollies more often, irritability or boredom. Don’t ignore these early warning signs. This is the time to pull over and take a break.
• Driver Fatigue is a physiological and psychological experience that can severely impair driver judgement and can affect any motorist at any time.
• Yawning, stretching, keeping the window open, drinking caffeinated drinks, or turning up the music may make you feel better temporarily, but only sleep can fix fatigue. |
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| Recognizing signs of driver fatigue |
| Some signs of Driver Fatigue may include: |
• Yawning
• Restlessness
• Heavy or sore eyes
• Blurred vision
• Slowed reactions
• Poor concentration
• Impatience
• Not remembering the last few kilometres of your trip
• Microsleeps |
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| The statistics |
• Driver Fatigue is a major factor in up to 20% of the annual road toll throughout Australia. 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 when your body’s circadian rhythms are programming you to sleep - four times greater than for the rest of the day.
• Driving while sleep deprived, especially late at night and at dawn increases the risk of having a microsleep and losing control of your vehicle. A microsleep is a brief and unintended loss of consciousness.
• During a 4 second microsleep a car travelling at 100km/hr will travel 111metres while completely out of the driver’s control. |
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| How can I prevent driver fatigue? |
• Plan your rest breaks and overnight accommodation BEFORE you leave home.
• Plan out your journey to ensure that you have plenty of rest stops – it is recommended that motorists take at least one rest stop every two hours.
• If you are travelling with children, carry some of their favourite music, some puzzles, books, pencils and paper. Children can easily become bored so if possible plan some stops with facilities for the kids
• Get a good night’s sleep before commencing a long trip.
• Eat light, fresh foods. Sandwiches and fruit are ideal snacks for drivers.
• Avoid heavy, fatty foods, which hasten the onset of tiredness.
• Try not to drive at times when you would normally be asleep.
• Avoid long drives after work.
• Take regular breaks from driving.
• Share the driving wherever 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.
• WEAR A YOUR DRIVER FATIGUE ALARM, IT CAN HELP TO SAVE LIVES. |
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