Fatigue message a yawn for SA drivers?
22/01/2010
SGIC is urging SA drivers heading away this Australia Day weekend to wake up to fatigue warnings after research revealed almost three in four sometimes drive while tired.
The SGIC survey of 500 South Australian drivers found men were generally most likely to risk fatigue with more than 70 per cent confessing to driving while tired and for longer than two hours during the past 12 months*.
However, the research showed many female drivers also ignored road safety advice about taking a break, with almost 60 per cent having driven for longer than two hours.
SGIC spokesperson Emily Gatt said it was important all drivers were both awake and alert before getting in the car, particularly on long trips.
“A lot of us are probably keen to reach our destinations, especially if we’re heading away for long weekends. But, unfortunately, around one in eight deaths on our road still involve fatigue**,” she said.
“Too many of us appear to be driving while tired or avoiding breaks every two hours – and that means too many of us are taking big risks on the road.
“It’s important to allow plenty of time for the trip, and if you’re restless or yawning pull over for a break.”
Ms Gatt said those driving between 10pm and dawn, when we normally sleep, were more likely to be involved in a fatigue-related collision.
“Driver fatigue is not just influenced by how long someone has been at the wheel, but also by the time of day or night and how rested a driver is before they start out,” she said.
To reduce the risk of driver fatigue:
- Make sure you are well rested before starting your trip;
- Take a break from driving at least every 2 hours;
- Don’t drive when you would normally be asleep;
- Include an overnight stop on long trips;
- Where possible, plan to share the driving.
* Based on a Pure Profile survey, September 2009.
** www.sapolice.sa.gov.au