Staying Awake While Driving
Automobile accidents are a major cause of liability claims. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that approximately 100,000 crashes each year are caused primarily by driver's drowsiness or fatigue.
All drivers who have worked a full day need to be conscious of their sleepiness. Driving fatigue is a fancy way to say "dead tired." Don't let your employees become statistics due to their sleepiness. Motor vehicle crashes remain the number one cause of death in the workplace.
The following are some practical tips to pass along to drivers of your vehicles:
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet - People who are not eating properly or are overweight suffer from poor quality sleep.
- Set a consistent sleep cycle - Consistency can help when getting "more sleep" is not an option.
- Maintain a regular exercise schedule - Any activity on a consistent basis should help.
- Cut down or eliminate caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine consumption, especially before you go to sleep. It can take up to six hours to get caffeine out of your bloodstream - any of these substances before bedtime can affect how you rest.
- Recognize warning signs - Drifting or weaving in your lane, tailgating, missing your exit, head nodding, excessive yawning, or rubbing of eyes.
- Pull over (in a safe area) for a short nap and then take a walk to stretch and wake up.
- Caffeine is, at best, a short-term solution of last resort, and will wear off quickly when you are overtired.
