Tiredness and Driving

[Shanara]

Hi Everyone,

Thought I would post this in here as I have noticed a couple of people talking about tiredness on the programme, one a shift worker who has to drive at odd hours in the night.

It is really important to listen to your body and slow down a bit and take more rest time. That being said sometimes we need to get ourselves home.

I recently bought a device that hangs on your ear like a bluetooth ear piece. It is called a Driver Fatigue Alarm. It cost me $30 for two - gave one to my parents who have already used it on a long trip. Dad actually found out his head dips down when he brakes. That's how it works - if your head dips so many degrees it buzzes. There is also a model which sounds a screech but that felt too shattering for me.

Now we generally don't allow advertisements on the forum and I want you to all know I have absolutely no connection to this company apart from owning one of their devices.

The reason I am quite passionate about this is because 5 years ago I was driving at 110 kms down a freeway at 5 in the afternoon and fell asleep and veered across the two sides of a dual freeway before coming to rest with a tree halfway through my car. It is a miracle I survived!

This $15 device may have prevented that from happening. I know Cohens affects us in different ways - and some report tiredness so this is the website for those that want to investigate further.

www.driverfatiguealarm.com.au

There may be other manufacturers and suppliers - I have just never seen them myself.

I would like you all to be safe and sound, along with your families.

Enjoy the journey,
Shanara

[Kohinoor]

Hi Shanara,

Good post, girl !! The old "tired driving" can sneak up on us in many situations. And, I believe I've heard nearly 50% of accidents are caused by "tired drivers".

Here's a few extra thoughts that I have gleaned in over 40 years of driving :-

1. A heavy lunch will be followed by extreme tiredness around 1 hour later. So, if you are "visiting" an area, and face a drive home later, wait through 1 to 2 hours (with a bit of walking, etc.) to allow the stomach to finish with the breaking down of the food. "Getting Back on the Bus" talks of this - specially if you've indulged with carbs.
Better option: Have a LIGHT lunch if you are driving soon after....

2. Plan to NOT be driving into a mid-late afternoon sun if you can - the combination of tired eyes (from sun-glare) and any over-indulgence at lunch are a lethal combination.

3. Driving at night is great - but once your body is into its usual "sleep time", slipping into a microsleep is SO much easier. Far better to park and have a power nap, then move on. Don't ignore the signs !!

4. When I have driven at night, even BEFORE I actually feel tired, the appearance of things will become "different". I used this as an indication I will be needing to stop soon. (e.g. the way trees look changes - they take on an almost surreal shape.... it's a warning). see point 5....

5. In my younger days (when buying our first home) I took on a second job (as a security guard at night). What I found, as weeks went by, is that, while driving after midnight (on my way home) the passing scenery would take on weird shapes - I vividly recall the night when someone's fence "appeared" to be a local bus !! I was hallucinating !! Soon after THAT episode, I quit my second job - I didn't want to leave my kids fatherless, and my wife a widow !!

Microsleeps can come up on you quickly (and fatally). Main thing is to know the warning signs, AND your own limitations.

Failing that, this little device that Shanara mentioned sounds like a REALLY good investment in your future health

Koh

[jlou]

Thanks so much for this Shanara.

Pre-Cohens I had a microsleep on the motorway one day with my son and our au pair in the car. It was only about 4pm but I guess I still wasn't getting great sleep then. I pulled over into the next emergency lane and we swapped drivers!

Twilight is the worst time for me - not helped by my severe myopia (short sighted) which is such that I do not feel safe driving at night for all but short distances. The way your pupil dilates at night means your glasses or contact lenses are not correcting to the same level as in daytime so your night vision is shot. To me I feel like I am drunk driving!