You should have seen a Global Safety Alert this week. This relates to a tragic incident towards the end of last year where a contract haulier, who was working in our operations overseas, sadly died when he lost control of his truck and it overturned.  It is believed the driver fell asleep at the wheel.

The road safety charity, Brake, quote a study that found one in six road traffic collisions resulting in death or injury are fatigue related, with 40% of these involving commercial vehicle drivers.

Many factors increase the risk of us being involved in a fatigue related crash including:

• Lack of sleep or disturbed sleep: This could be due to disruptions in life such as a new baby, busy schedules or stress, or could be due to sleep disorders such as narcolepsy, insomnia or sleep apnoea.
• Time of day: The most common times for drivers with normal sleep patterns to fall asleep at the wheel are early morning (2am-6am) and early afternoon (2pm-4pm). These times are when the body clock reaches a natural dip, causing drowsiness and reduced concentration.
• Stress: Tiredness and difficulty concentrating are typical symptoms of stress.
• Irregular sleep patterns: This can be a problem caused by irregular work shifts and switching from day to night shifts without having sufficient time off in between for your body clock to adjust. Research has found shift workers are particularly high risk for sleep-related crashes.
• Driving for long periods: Research has found driving deteriorates after two hours of continuous driving, as you become less able to concentrate, and slower to react to hazards. The longer you drive, the more rest you need to recover driving performance. Breaks are therefore recommended every two hours.
• Vehicle engineering: Modern vehicles are usually quiet and comfortable for the driver, meaning a more relaxed drive. This can lull drivers, particularly in vehicles fitted with comfort-enhancing features such as cruise control.
• Medication: Some prescription and over-the-counter drugs can cause drowsiness and impaired alertness. Medications may carry warnings that are not clear they impair driving, for example small print that only advises not to operate heavy machinery. Learn more about drug driving.

Please review this Alert and the common causes of fatigue with drivers, including contract hauliers, and remind them that the best way to avoid driving tired is to get plenty of rest beforehand, particularly if setting off early in the morning: at least seven to eight hours sleep is recommended.  Drivers are advised to plan long journeys to include rest breaks of at least 15 minutes at every two hours and, if tiredness kicks in before then, it is important to stop and rest as soon as possible.

When taking a break, the only cure for tiredness is sleep. Having a nap for 15 minutes is more effective in reducing driver sleepiness than an active break, such as getting out of the vehicle and walking around.  While drinking caffeinated coffee or an energy drink can be effective in reducing driver tiredness over short periods, this is only a short-term solution and cannot replace regular breaks and sufficient sleep.

The Alert, in the download section of the UK News website, should also be displayed on relevant noticeboards.