Avoid being dead - tired

You may be pleased to hear that I no longer rely on good luck to keep me alive, nor should you.

Take precautions and heed the early warnings of tiredness. Bear in mind that being a ‘good driver’ does not make you immune (I thought that I was a ‘good driver’). Good driving is not simply a matter of skill and judgement; it requires a deep sense of social responsibility – something that I managed to overlook 25 years ago …

Sleep does not creep up without warning. And it’s probable that you already know the signs!

• Difficulty concentrating
• Yawning
• Neck muscles relaxing
• Unintentional variations in driving speed
• Forgetting the last mile or two
• Daydreaming
• Realising that your reactions are slowing
• Sore or heavy eyes
• Dim or fuzzy vision
• ‘Seeing’ things (that aren’t there)
• General tiredness
• Drifting across the road or on to ‘rumble strips’

If you experience any of these symptoms while driving open your car windows and stop as soon as possible; on a motorway take the next exit or service area, whichever is closest; on a non-motorway stop at the first safe place.

Take a walk, or ideally a short sleep and then a walk. Caffeinated drinks will help but are not a substitute for other measures. It takes about twenty minutes for caffeine to affect your system, an ideal opportunity for a nap. But be aware that the ‘caffeine/sleep’ fix is a one off; if you start to tire again, break your journey and get some proper sleep.

If you realise your head is nodding or you drift out of lane – STOP! If you are on a motorway you might expect a prosecution for stopping illegally on the hard shoulder, but it’s better than taking the risk of killing yourself and/or other road users.

Better still, always plan to be wide awake when driving.

The greatest risk is between midnight and six in the morning. Mid afternoon can also be a dangerous time, especially if you have had a heavy lunch.

Plan long journeys to tie in with your ‘alert cycle’. Schedule regular breaks – 15 minutes every couple of hours. If you have to start your journey early or late make sure that you are fully aware of the risks and take measures to compensate.

I’ve already mentioned that a heavy mid-day meal can cause problems, in addition alcohol (even one drink) and medication (prescribed or over the counter) can also cause problems. Of course it’s wise to avoid any alcohol when driving and always seek advice from your doctor or pharmacist when taking medication. It might seem obvious, but when it states on the label ‘Do not drive or operate machinery’ that is exactly what it means – you are not exempt!

Finally a few myths …

• Coffee keeps me awake
• Fresh air will stop me from sleeping
• Loud music keeps me going
• A cold drink will refresh me
• Talking to my passenger will keep me alert
• A short nap is all I need
• I can stay awake – it’s simply ‘mind over matter’

There is a degree of truth in all of the above statements, but they represent short term solutions only. They are not a cure for sleep depravation. The only real fix for drowsy driving is real sleep.

When I had my ‘sleep’ accident I estimate that I dozed off for less than a second, a ‘micro-sleep’. I was travelling at between fifty and sixty mph which means I probably covered something between fifteen and thirty metres ‘blind’. Try walking 30 metres with your eyes closed and notice just how far it is!

I can only remember three other ‘sleep’ incidents since that fateful night in 1983. On two occasions I stopped and slept in the car for about three hours, on the that occasion I booked into a hotel 25 miles from home and cancelled my early appointments the next day – I was out of pocket and missed some business, but I’m still here to tell the tale.

Take it from me. Experience is a great teacher. But crashing your car when you ‘nod off’ is an experience that you will definitely be better off without…