This silent killer may have accounted for more than 350 road deaths in the past 5 years. According to Noel Brett, CEO of the RSA, scientific studies show that if a driver persists in fighting sleep while driving, the impairment level is the same as driving while over the drink drive limit.
Drivers who persist in fighting sleep can experience ‘micro sleeps’ whereby they will drift in and out of consciousness. Micro sleeps can last for 10 seconds during which time a driver has no control over the vehicle.
Advice includes stopping and taking a nap for 15 minutes (set your mobile phone alarm); taking a caffeine drink before the nap; getting some fresh air and stretching your legs after it before driving on.
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