Fatigue Awareness - How to avoid drowsiness when driving
The County Donegal Road Safety Working Group is pleased to announce the launch of a new road safety campaign aimed at reducing the numbers of casualties on our roads. The Fatigue Awareness campaign is the fourth in a series of campaigns for 2006 highlighting simple road safety tips that will make journeys safer.
Many drivers will encounter fatigue in their motoring career. Research suggests that it’s a factor in four out of ten rural fatal road crashes and one in six urban fatal road crashes. It is responsible for at least 10% of all crashes. There is no single definition of fatigue but it results in loss of alertness and deterioration in driving behaviour well before falling asleep. The most appropriate action to combat fatigue is to stop the vehicle and take a break.
Further analysis of statistics shows that 79% of fatigue related accidents involved a single vehicle whilst 59% occurred within two hours of the journey beginning. The aim of this campaign is to alert drivers to the symptoms of fatigue, so they can recognise them when they occur in their own driving. It also gives drivers useful tips to prevent fatigue in their journey and helpful tips to combat fatigue when it occurs.Some of the warning signs include not remembering the last few miles, not thinking clearly or yawning continually.
Speaking at the launch this morning, 1st September, Divisional Traffic Inspector, Pat O’Donnell, said “ All drivers are vulnerable when driving long distances, so you should always allow time for breaks. If you do feel tired, stop for at least 15 minutes and drink a caffeine based or energy drink”.
Arrive Alive, is the fourth campaign in 2006 by the Donegal Road Safety Working Group and follows the Belt Up – Seatbelts save lives campaign which ran through March / April, the SLOW DOWN – Speed kills which ran through May / June 2006 and the July / August campaign, One Drink Is One Drink too many – Never Ever Drink and Drive. Future campaigns planned are:
- See and be Seen – November / December
- Christmas Campaign – December / January 07
The Donegal Road Safety Working Group is an interagency forum made up of representatives from the following agencies: