Driver fatigue

[matty_h]

Falling asleep while driving could account for 10% of accidents someone said.

Lots of coverage on this subject at the BBC website.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/newsid_1895000/1895753.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/england/newsid_1710000/1710338.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/newsid_1262000/1262423.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/scotland/newsid_1830000/1830932.stm

[thom]

So it means drivers who don't sleep at the wheel cause 90% of accidents?

[matty_h]

Sorry folks - didn't realise that this subject had already been chewed over at length last year...

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?f=57&h=&t=4634

[thom]

Well, matty, are you afraid of falling asleep at the wheel?
Do you have long journeys in your car?

>> Edited by thom on Wednesday 27th March 10:18

[matty_h]

I tend not to do many long journeys in the car, so not too much danger of falling asleep at the wheel. I've done journeys in the past where I've left late to drive overnight to NW Scotland & had to pull up in service stations for sleep - not good. I don't do that any more - it's easier to fly. Drove down to Verbier & back last month which was a long slog but I had a co-driver with whom I swapped every couple of hours.

[JMGS4]

I drive 120000 km per year and can feel for people who drop off. My trick when feeling drowsy is just pull off into the next layby and sleep for 10 minutes only, then drive on refreshed. I don't get sleepy on roads with no limits as I drive as fast as the conditions allow, but do get drowsy when forced to drive at ridiculously slow speeds (like GB 70 mph limit) as my attention seems to wander.... anyone else experienced this?

[thom]

quote:
but do get drowsy when forced to drive at ridiculously slow speeds (like GB 70 mph limit) as my attention seems to wander.... anyone else experienced this?

Yep, in Denmark: the speed limit on some A roads is 60kph and I once almost fell asleep...Add to this the compulsory switched on headlights plus the numpties (they ALL drive like numpties up there) and your eyes get fairly tired.
One good side though: 30mpg

[kevinday]

Certainly have, not quite in the same way as you though. When I lived in England I was in a Territorial Royal Signals regiment. I drove a comms truck (about 10 tonnes). We had to drive in convoy, not exceeding 30mph on the way back from Dover to London at 3 in the morning, all with hangovers from the previous night. Needless to say I nearly fell asleep, pulled over into a layby for a few minutes, then drove back to base at top speed (50-55mph) and did not feel sleepy at all at top speed.

[mondeoman]

Been there, done that. Fell asleep at about a ton, mid afternoon, luckily woke up as I crossed the rumble strips on the central reservation. Just kissed the Armco with the rear. Scared the crap out of me as I was just passing an artic at the time.

Pull over if you feel tired - 10 mins kip is all you need to refresh and you'll get there in one piece

[relaxitscool]

I have the same problem at work. We've just adopted a 4 on 4 off 12 hour shift system. If I'm working on my own it means I can be driving around for upto 12 hours, and at the last minute can be called upon to drive at high speeds.

This is something my collegues and I find a little hypocritical considering other professions like HGV drivers are heavily regulated by time limits and rest periods whilst driving. But the powers that be think different.

I've often driven home after a shift, got there and thought.....I don't remember driving home...

>> Edited by relaxitscool on Friday 29th March 19:59

[apache]

Rob, if you're plod stick around, we used to have another guy who we could bounce ideas off or get useful info from but he's gone quiet

[CarZee]

quote:I've often driven home after a shift, got there and thought.....I don't remember driving home...

Hmmm.. Chief-Super been sharing his pot around again huh ?

[Fatboy]

relaxitscool - my GF used to work for the ambulance service, and they have the same daft sort of exemption. Because they're classed as 'emergency services' (no sh*t sherlock) they don't have to follow the max driving hours guidelines HGV's do, and as such do 12 hour shifts of near constant driving. I can see the point of you wouldn't want to be in an emergency and be told 'Sorry, the ambulance/police/Fire Brigade can't get to you for another 45 mins, they're on their break' , but this just means the managers put them out there all day in an attempt to meet idiotic guidelines. here must be a better way of doing it???

[dcb]

>I don't get sleepy on roads with no limits as I drive as fast as >the conditions allow, but do get drowsy when forced to drive at >ridiculously slow speeds (like GB 70 mph limit) as my attention >seems to wander.... anyone else experienced this?

Me too. 70 mph max implies 50-60 mph average, which
means a long time to get anywhere. Good old Brit nanny state.

They don't seem to realise that a significant fraction
of car crashes are due to boredom. Look what happened
when the USA upped their limit from 55 to 65. Crashes
reduced in number.

Further, what vehicle you drive makes a big difference.

70 mph in a Ford Anglia is scary.
90 mph in a Lada is scary.
90 mph in a Jaguar is like watching paint dry.

But at least at above 100 mph, I can provide
goods & services to my customers in a reasonable time.
At maximum 70 (avg say 60), I can't visit them.

[hertsbiker]

quote:
70 mph in a Ford Anglia is scary.
90 mph in a Lada is scary.
90 mph in a Jaguar is like watching paint dry.

The feeling I *used* to get when cruising at 140, wasn't one of concern at my abilities, or the fear of falling asleep, it was;-

a) worry that someone doesn't see me
b) worry about hitting wild animal crossing road
c) how long it actually takes to stop at that speed
d) getting nicked

Actually "d" was my primary worry, but I can tell you that at no time did I ever feel fatigue, even after many hours ride.

Compare that, to the soporific (sp?) effects of driving a softly sprung/heated/comfy hire car from Blackburn to London last year, at a copper friendly 80mph...

Funny how high speeds seem safe, when everyone else is driving at high speed as well !

C

[Cotty]

quote:

70 mph in a Ford Anglia is scary.
90 mph in a Lada is scary.
90 mph in a Jaguar is like watching paint dry.

115 mph in a MK1 Cortina focuses the mind but you should have seen the face of the XR2 driver that I was pulling away from
Paul