Fatigue is a reality that affects all drivers; especially commercial vehicle drivers who are exposed to long hours on the road and even in extreme conditions like bad traffic and/or weather.
How does one prevent fatigue and be effective in your daily work as well as outside? We tried to answer this question.
Driving Hours and Fatigue
The European Commission has set the maximum driving time at 9 hours daily, or 56 hours a week. Then, when a driver is on the road for 4 hours and 30 minutes, it is imperative for them to take a break of at least 45 minutes to prevent fatigue.
In the United States, the FMCSA hours of service (HOS) rules are designed to eliminate the type of drowsiness that can lead to crashes. The federal hours-of-service rules do not specifically limit the distance that can be driven in one day, but they do limit the number of hours that can be spent driving, as follows: Drivers of property-carrying commercial motor vehicles (CMYs) are limited to 11 hours of driving after having 10 consecutive hours off duty.
When some truck drivers drive for three or four hours, others will be tired after one to two. Our opinion is that it is important to ask “what is a state of fatigue?” to determine when it is appropriate to stop.
Good to know
Some drivers interviewed think they are tired when they yawn and have difficulty keeping their eyes open. These two reactions are already signs of fatigue! When your concentration goes down, you're struggling to find a comfortable position, or stopping to look in your mirrors, it's important to stop and rest. Take the time to take a break, stretch your legs and why not take a nap!
Importance of planning
Good planning is not only helpful in making your time more efficient and making the customer happy, it can also save your life! So, when you plan your trip, do not forget to take into account your rest periods, possible changes of traffic conditions, or weather changes that affect your fatigue!
Good planning also makes a safer and more enjoyable journey.
Equipment for drivers
Whether the driver makes his drive nationally or internationally, after driving long hours, the operator can meet different weather elements. This can be ideal when the rain changes into sunshine, but sometimes the driver encounters snow, freezing rain, or black ice. In this case, Onspot is a real benefit for commercial vehicle drivers because in extreme winter cases, drivers stay in the cab and just have to engage the switch to benefit from extra traction, and reduced fatigue!
Fatigue can also be reduced in winter by some tips! Check out our guide with 5 tips and tricks for efficient driving when winter weather strikes!
