3 minute read
Dear DfBB...
Dear DfBB,
Our same-day courier delivery service operates 24/7. It’s impossible to ensure our drivers have had enough sleep to be fit for work, so how can we avoid the risk of anyone falling asleep at the wheel?
DfBB says:
Firstly – and most importantly – you need to know the law on drivers’ hours, which limits the amount of driving a van driver can do each day. These laws also require minimum rest periods. Drivers breaking these rules can receive large fines and even custodial sentences.
While driving when tired is not an offence, driver fatigue is a serious issue and can be a contributory factor in one in five road incidents, as well as one in four fatal and serious incidents. For reference, peak times for fatigue-related crashes are within the hours of 02.00-06.00 and 14.00-16.00.
Around one in five people suffer some form of sleep problem that affects their driving ability through impairing coordination, judgment ability and memory and causing longer reaction times.
It’s a huge risk for fleets, drivers and for the general public – and commercial vehicle drivers are vulnerable to fatigue due to demanding workloads and high mileage.
Fatigue can mean tiredness, loss or concentration, or sleepiness. It affects your coordination, your reaction times and your ability to process what’s happening around you. For drivers, it can cause poor lane discipline, poor speed control, irrational responses and a host of other risky behaviours.
To protect drivers and the public from the effects of fatigue, there are a number of measures that those who manage and run fleets could – or maybe should – adopt.
Firstly, educate drivers about fatigue –using DfBB’s series of Toolbox Talks (available from www.vandrivertoolkit.co.uk) will help this process.
Also try to encourage good sleep patterns and create a culture in which genuine fatigue is a legitimate reason for not driving. Finally, ensure that shift patterns and organisational pressures do not create undue fatigue in drivers.
Needs some other tips to take driver fatigue?
Have adequate sleep before starting your journey.
Avoid heavy meals before starting driving.
Plan a 15-minute break for every two hours of driving. Avoid taking medication that causes drowsiness.
Stop in a safe place and take a break at the first sign of tiredness. Drink two cups of coffee or an equivalent caffeinated drink.
Take a short nap of around 15-20 minutes.
Got a fleet-related issue and want some advice? Email support@drivingforbetterbusiness.com
