The dangers of driver fatigue are often overlooked during long drives to a destination.
Words by Steve Fennell
We often claim that getting to a destination is always half the fun, and it is, but we also like to stress the importance of highway safety and taking preventative action against driver fatigue when behind the wheel is just one other measure to be mindful about.
Long-distance travelling is not uncommon among RVers. Spending hours or even days on the road is a great way to experience new attractions, different cultures, and outdoor activities in unique areas. Extended drives, however, often lead to motoring during dark morning hours, dusk, and well after night falls. But driver fatigue can happen practically any time and is a cause of a number of accidents and fatalities on Canadian rural roads and highways.
According to a survey by the Traffic Injury Research Foundation, ‘general fatigue-related fatal crashes’ commonly occur either in the middle of the night from 3 am to 6 am or in the afternoon between 3 pm and 6 pm. It also reported that 18.5 percent of those who participated in the study explained they had fallen asleep or nodded off while behind the wheel. It’s also worth noting that the same study reported an increase of fatigue-related fatalities from 4.6 percent in 2000 to 6.4 percent in 2013.
(*Ed note: the study was revealed during a report from the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police during Canada Road Safety Week in 2020).
While these statistics may not pertain to RVers exclusively, just imagine the damage a heavy-duty tow vehicle with a 12 m (40 ft) fifth wheel on the hitch could cause if you lost control of the entire rig due to fatigue. This alone should make you think twice about passing that rest stop for a well-deserved break or pulling over for some fresh air and a cup of your favourite clover-brewed coffee.
But it takes more than just a strong blast of caffeine and fresh air to prevent driver fatigue. Here are a variety of best practices to avoid driver fatigue or more importantly, prevent a serious accident that could seriously injure you, your passengers and others on the highway.
Driver fatigue can affect judgment and reaction times in a variety of conditions including bad weather.
1. Limit Driving Time
While it’s exciting to get to a destination, always take your time. Being anxious to end the journey or to get to the campground may not be the safest decision especially after being at the wheel for hours.
Driving more than 400 or 500 km (250 or 300 mi) a day especially when towing or driving a fully loaded RV may be excessive. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), being at the wheel for extended periods can lead to poor reaction times during inclement weather, changing road conditions, avoiding wildlife or careless drivers, drifting from your lane. It can even create tunnel vision or cause you to forget the last few kilometres that were driven.
What this means is allow plenty of time to get to a final destination should you need to get ‘recharged’ at a rest area or other location off the highway. You’ll certainly notice a difference afterwards.
2. Share the Driving
When travelling with a partner, friends or family, always have a designated driver who knows how to drive the motorhome or tow vehicle confidently and safely. Not only will this provide a nice break from the wheel, but you can stay on a travel schedule, limit anxiety, and arrive at a destination in a timely fashion due to fewer breaks at rest stops.
3. Understand Road Weary Symptoms
While there are a variety of proactive measures to avoid road weariness, understanding the signs is just as important. According to Road Safety at Work, some common symptoms of driving fatigue include:
- Drowsiness and/or feeling exhausted
- Frequent yawning
- Sore, tired eyes
- Slower reflexes or reaction times
- Sore or stiff muscles
- Lack of focus or concentration
It’s important to realize that driving at dusk poses a challenge as well. It’s the time of day when the iris in the eye is smaller due to the apparent amount of existing light, which in turn, means it limits the amount of light to effectively see the road clearly. Some other lesser-known symptoms include lack of motivation, dizziness, impaired hand-to-eye coordination, and consistent headaches. If these problems persist well after a trip it’s best to consult with a physician before travelling again.
Pulling over to ‘recharge’ is always wise no matter where your travels take you.
4. Don’t Get Too Comfortable and Engage with Other Passengers
Every year, RV and tow vehicle manufacturers design new ways to improve comfort for drivers with more plush seat designs, and technology. While comfortable and convenient, Explore USA explains that being too relaxed behind the wheel can lead to a more relaxed state and may increase the possibility of fatigue. Sitting upright in the seat, engaging in conversations with other passengers, even using multimedia systems like Sirius or Apple CarPlay can stimulate the brain thus limiting the chance of road weariness.
Some additional best practices whether you travel with family or friends or even solo include getting at least seven to eight hours of sleep while on the road, driving at times when you’re commonly awake, and taking frequent breaks every few hours. It’s also important to stay hydrated and try to avoid heavy meals or fatty foods before or while driving.
Driver-assistance technology can also help with road-weariness and are systems to consider for your next motorhome or tow vehicle. For instance, the Ford Co-Pilot360 is found in many of the company’s new line of trucks and is now available in select Class B motorhomes with the Ford Transit chassis, which includes the 2021 Wonder from Leisure Travel Vans. With a variety of collision warnings around the vehicle, Co-Pilot360 technology includes a post-crash alert system, side-wind stabilization, and Auto High-Beam Headlamps - all designed to enhance road safety and provide added alertness on the road.
There are a variety of effective ways to combat driver fatigue for added safety on extended trips. With plenty of rest, awareness and support from other passengers and even your vehicle, you can feel confident of taking on the long road ahead and get to your destination safe and sound.
Get Plenty of Zzz’s During Travel. Here’s Why.
For one reason or another, it’s often difficult to get a good night’s rest but according to a 2016 report by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety:
- Within 24 hours, the risks of accidents among sleepy drivers increased steadily when compared to drivers who slept seven hours or more.
- Those who slept for less than five hours had a crash risk comparable to someone impaired.
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety also reported the following statistics to certainly keep in mind the next time you plan a long-distant RV trip:
- Six to seven hours of sleep: your crash risk is 1.3 times higher than normal
- Five to eight hours of sleep: your crash risk is 1.9 times higher than normal
- Four to five hours of sleep: your crash risk is 4.3 times higher than normal
- Less than 4 hours of sleep: your crash risk is 11.5 times higher than normal
Andrew Hart