Did you know that we can't be responsible for up to 20% of two road accidents? This results from the diminution of our perceptual, cognitive and motor capacities. States of fatigue and deprivation are detrimental to vigilance, attention, perceptive capacity, reaction time and the entire decision-making process. For your safety and all other road users, you should avoid driving with any symptoms of fatigue. As staunch defenders of the active part of road safety, we always recommend that you have your help flash light device, a light to save lives.
Numbing is the extreme result of fatigue
Driving is an activity that requires high concentration and alert senses. It is common to think that steering fatigue corresponds to drowsiness while driving. However, this phenomenon is an extreme state of fatigue, going beyond drowsiness.
Fatigue manifests itself as tired or exhausted. The attributes necessary for safe driving are reduced as the state of fatigue sets in before there is a risk of the steering wheel becoming numb.
It is crucial to note that the peak of fatigue and sleepiness occurs between 2 and 6 hours in the morning and, in the afternoon, between 14 and 16 hours, when the biological rhythm naturally induces sleep.
Most drivers recognize the symptoms of fatigue, but many still underestimate the risks of continuing to drive when they are tired.
Os sinais de aviso incluem:
- Greater difficulty concentrating
- Sketches
- Sensation of heavy eyelids
- When the head begins to fan, it may be entering a "micro-sono"
- Reflexes and reaction times slower than normal
- Impatience or irritability
- Muscles sore, rigid or like caibras
- Slower or more uncertain decision-making process
Did you know that falling asleep for 2 seconds at 100 km/h will mean running 60 meters without any control over the road or road conditions?
Prevenir é o melhor remédio
There are intrinsic factors in people that can enhance this effect, such as lack of sleep, great physical effort, intense intellectual work, intake of alcoholic beverages, “heavy” meals and some types of medications. Also, factors related to the infrastructure and the road environment, such as a monotonous environment, night traffic and traffic intensity, can also contribute to driving fatigue.
It is crucial that drivers remain aware of these causes and take preventive measures such as:
- Get enough rest before driving
- Opt for lighter refreshments,
- Avoid at all or consuming alcohol or taking medications that may cause drowsiness
- Take regular breaks during longer trips (stop for 2 or 2 hours, leave the vehicle and check your limbs).
If you start to feel sleepy, stop as quickly as possible in a safe place and, if necessary, do not hesitate to sleep for a while until you feel more awake and energetic. Only in this way will we be able to reduce the risks associated with steering wheel fatigue and guarantee the safety of all road users.
