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RAA is reminding drivers to rest on road trips – with fatigue a significant contributor to serious injury/fatal crashes and can be as dangerous as drink driving.
According to research commissioned by the Australian Automobile Association (AAA), being awake for about 17 hours has a similar effect on driving to a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.05, and not sleeping for 24 hours has the same effect as a 0.10 BAC – double the legal limit.
RAA Road Safety Senior Manager Charles Mountain said has urged drivers to get at least 7-9 hours sleep before getting behind the wheel – and to watch for warning signs of fatigue.
“If you’re sleep deprived it can impair your driving ability to the same level as being twice the legal alcohol limit,” Mr Mountain said.
“Recognise signs of fatigue, like yawning or difficulty concentrating, and stop immediately in a safe location if you’re experiencing symptoms – otherwise you might experience microsleeps which can potentially be fatal when driving.
“RAA recommends drivers stop and rest every two hours for at least 15-20 minutes – get some fresh air and stretch the legs.
“Also share the driving if possible and have at least one passenger stay awake and be on the lookout for signs of tiredness in the driver.
“Aim not to travel more than 8-10 hours a day and where possible, avoid driving at night or early morning – as the changes of fatigue and crashing are much higher in these timeslots.”
Mr Mountain also said RAA would like greater public awareness around the danger of fatigue as a contributing factor to road trauma.
“Public awareness needs to focus on regular rest breaks during long drives,” Mr Mountain said.
“There is a tendency to overestimate our ability to drive for extended periods without taking breaks unfortunately with disastrous consequences.”
“The widespread use of treatments such as audio tactile line markings on high-risk road sections and sealing shoulders should also be prioritised where feasible as these help to alert drivers that they are drifting out of the travel lane. In-vehicle technologies such as lane assist also help drivers stay within their lane.”
“However, none of these are a substitute for being well rested and taking regular breaks when driving long distances.”
“RAA also supports continuous improvement of rest areas on both national highways and rural roads – to make sure they are well-maintained and accessible.
“If you’re feeling tired, just don’t drive. It’s not worth the risk.”