{"id":5644,"date":"2022-04-07T14:00:38","date_gmt":"2022-04-07T08:30:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loconav.com\/blog\/?p=5644"},"modified":"2022-04-06T23:23:38","modified_gmt":"2022-04-06T17:53:38","slug":"driver-fatigue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/loconav.com\/blog\/driver-fatigue\/","title":{"rendered":"Know All About Driver Fatigue To Protect Your Fleet"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many businesses depend on their fleets to deliver products, transfer commodities between warehouses and go to distant job sites. To satisfy delivery standards, fleet drivers are frequently required to endure long travels and unpredictable driving schedules leading to driver fatigue.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The notion that drunk, drugged, and distracted drivers endanger themselves and others are pretty well established, but fatigued drivers, while often dismissed as a problem, are just as dangerous.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The conventional image of a fatigued driver is someone behind the wheel late at night, presumably on their way to or from a holiday, however, fatigue is more frequently an issue with individuals driving for work due to the number of hours traveled rather than the time of day.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>What is <\/b><b>Driver Fatigue<\/b><b>?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To dig deeper, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">driver fatigue<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is frequently regarded as an underappreciated risk of being on the road. Drivers frequently confront long travels and unpredictable driving schedules, which can lead to circumstances in which they are driving when tired and drowsy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Technology has the potential to significantly reduce the amount of fatigue-related accidents among fleet drivers. Vehicle features and ADAS solutions such as drowsiness and lane departure alarms, for example, are ideal examples of technology that can identify common drowsy driving habits and alert drivers to remain in their lane or take a break.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS) are sets of technological technologies that help drivers with driving and parking. ADAS improves vehicle and road safety by utilizing a secure human-machine interface. ADAS uses automated technology, including sensors and cameras, to identify and react to nearby impediments or driver errors.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Causes of <\/b><b>Driver Fatigue<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some of the most common causes of driver weariness are:\u00a0<img loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-5646 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/loconav.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Sleep-Deprivation-300x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"257\" height=\"257\" srcset=\"https:\/\/loconav.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Sleep-Deprivation-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/loconav.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Sleep-Deprivation-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/loconav.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Sleep-Deprivation-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/loconav.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Sleep-Deprivation-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/loconav.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Sleep-Deprivation-600x600.png 600w, https:\/\/loconav.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Sleep-Deprivation.png 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 257px) 100vw, 257px\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Sleep Deprivation<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Most people need 7-9 hours of sleep per night to function optimally. The majority of drivers are unable to obtain so much sleep, resulting in <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">driver fatigue<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Disorders of Sleep<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Sleep apnea is a respiratory disorder in which a person&#8217;s breathing briefly stops while sleeping. These intervals of no breathing can occur multiple times during the night, leaving a person exhausted even after acquiring the required amount of sleep.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Substance Abuse:<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 Alcohol, prescription drugs, and illegal narcotics can all cause severe drowsiness in drivers, which can be exacerbated when drivers get behind the wheel already weary or under other sleep-inducing conditions.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-5648 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/loconav.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Driving-at-night-300x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"263\" height=\"263\" srcset=\"https:\/\/loconav.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Driving-at-night-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/loconav.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Driving-at-night-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/loconav.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Driving-at-night-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/loconav.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Driving-at-night-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/loconav.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Driving-at-night-600x600.png 600w, https:\/\/loconav.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Driving-at-night.png 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 263px) 100vw, 263px\" \/><\/span>Driving or working late at night<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Most people&#8217;s circadian rhythms predispose them to sleep late at night, which means their systems shift into a sleep-friendly mode more effortlessly during those hours.<\/span><br \/>\n<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>Traveling frequently:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 Travel can interfere with a person&#8217;s sleep cycle rhythms in a variety of ways. The well-known condition of jet lag is caused by changing time zones. Traveling within the same time zone, on the other hand, can have a significant impact on a person&#8217;s sleep clock. Traveling takes a physical toll due to stress and (in the case of air travel) dehydration.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-5647 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/loconav.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Poor-health-and-nutrition-300x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"259\" height=\"259\" srcset=\"https:\/\/loconav.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Poor-health-and-nutrition-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/loconav.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Poor-health-and-nutrition-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/loconav.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Poor-health-and-nutrition-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/loconav.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Poor-health-and-nutrition-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/loconav.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Poor-health-and-nutrition-600x600.png 600w, https:\/\/loconav.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Poor-health-and-nutrition.png 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 259px) 100vw, 259px\" \/><\/span>Poor health and nutrition:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0 A person who is in relatively bad condition or who suffers from poor nourishment (both of which are common issues for truckers) will feel exhausted more easily.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Pre-driving effort:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Excessive physical exertion prior to driving can leave a driver feeling weary behind the wheel.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>How To Prevent<\/b> <b>Driver Fatigue<\/b><b> From Causing Accidents?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><b>For Fleet Managers:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Examine data from <span style=\"color: #1eacb2;\"><a style=\"color: #1eacb2;\" href=\"https:\/\/loconav.com\/blog\/all-about-obd-ii-devices\/\">OBD monitoring devices<\/a> <\/span>for indicators of potential <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">driver fatigue<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> periods, such as lane deviations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Allow time for rest breaks and naps throughout long work shifts.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Provide<\/span><span style=\"color: #1eacb2;\"><a style=\"color: #1eacb2;\" href=\"https:\/\/loconav.com\/blog\/driver-scorecards\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> driver fatigue<\/span><\/a><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"color: #1eacb2;\">&#8211;<\/span>symptom checklists to supervisors and employees, and encourage self-reporting.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Implement policies that limit overtime and the number of consecutive shifts that can be worked.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maintain adequate staffing levels throughout all operations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Employees should be trained on sleep hygiene and <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">driver fatigue<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> management.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Implement a screening and management program for sleep disorders in the workplace.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Encourage coworkers to check their own <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">driver fatigue<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> symptoms.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Examine data from <span style=\"color: #1eacb2;\"><a style=\"color: #1eacb2;\" href=\"https:\/\/loconav.com\/telematics\/video-telematics\">in-vehicle surveillance systems<\/a><\/span> for indicators of potential <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">driver fatigue<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> episodes, such as lane deviations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Consider employing wearables to measure driver weariness, such as an instrumented wristband.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Instruct incident investigators on how to evaluate the role of weariness in mishaps and near-misses.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>For Drivers:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you are confronted about a <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">driver fatigue<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">-related incident, be truthful. Fatigue is a natural bodily response; it has nothing to do with how well you execute your work.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you become tired while driving, pull over, drink some coffee, and take a 15-30 min break before resuming. The effects are just transitory; sleep is the sole &#8220;cure&#8221; for weariness.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plan your tasks outside of work so that you have ample time to sleep.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Create a sleep environment that promotes restful sleep: a dark, quiet, cool room free of electronics.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep an eye out for indicators of weariness in yourself and your coworkers.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Report incidents of exhaustion in yourself and other drivers to your immediate supervisor, who can assist in determining the best course of action.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plan your commitments outside of work so that you have ample time to sleep.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Get enough rest. If you still feel tired after getting enough sleep, be checked for any health issues that may be interfering with your sleep.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A problem of this magnitude necessitates a thorough plan to address it. The first step is to inform everyone involved \u2013 notably the drivers \u2013 on how to spot the factors that increase the risk of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">driver fatigue<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and how to mitigate them.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Many businesses depend on their fleets to deliver products, transfer commodities between warehouses and go to distant job sites. To satisfy delivery standards, fleet drivers are frequently required to endure long travels and unpredictable driving schedules leading to driver fatigue. The notion that drunk, drugged, and distracted drivers endanger themselves and others are pretty well [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16056,"featured_media":5645,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_editorskit_title_hidden":false,"_editorskit_reading_time":0,"_editorskit_typography_data":[],"_editorskit_blocks_typography":"","_editorskit_is_block_options_detached":false,"_editorskit_block_options_position":"{}"},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/loconav.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5644"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/loconav.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/loconav.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loconav.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16056"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loconav.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5644"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/loconav.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5644\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5649,"href":"https:\/\/loconav.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5644\/revisions\/5649"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loconav.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5645"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/loconav.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5644"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loconav.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5644"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loconav.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5644"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}