What should you know about driver fatigue?

Fatigue is more than feeling bored on a long journey. Sleepiness, heavy eyelids, repeated yawning, drifting across a lane, missing signs or forgetting the last part of a route can all signal reduced alertness. Long hours, night driving, broken sleep, illness, alcohol and some medicines can contribute. A person may underestimate the problem because fatigue can affect judgement at the same time as it affects attention.

Persistent tiredness away from driving can have many possible explanations, including Anaemia, Burnout, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic Kidney Disease, Coeliac Disease, COVID-19 or Dehydration. These links are possibilities to discuss with a clinician, not conclusions from fatigue alone.

Plan a properly rested start and share the driving when possible. Take regular breaks in a safe place; if sleepiness appears, stop rather than trying to push through. A short nap may help temporarily, but strong coffee is not a substitute for sleep and cannot make an unsafe driver safe. Do not drive after drinking alcohol, and check whether a new medicine can cause drowsiness.

If you notice drifting, slow responses or difficulty remembering the road, leave the traffic flow safely and arrange another way to travel. Do not pull onto a hard shoulder or roadside location unless it is permitted and genuinely safe.

Arrange a GP Consultation if tiredness persists despite adequate rest, repeatedly interferes with work or driving, or comes with breathlessness, fainting, fever, weight change, thirst or changes in urination. Seek urgent help if severe sleepiness occurs with confusion, collapse, chest pain or difficulty breathing. Never drive yourself when you feel unsafe.

Ask what could be contributing to your fatigue, whether your sleep pattern or medicines need review, and which symptoms should prompt urgent assessment. Bring a list of medicines and note when sleepiness occurs, including during daytime, after meals or on particular shifts.