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<\/p>\nWhy is driver fatigue monitoring a big topic in fleet safety? First and foremost, driver fatigue is a big contributor to accidents. However, more importantly, fleet drivers are the most likely fatigued drivers.<\/p>\n
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According to a survey amongst traffic officers, the riskiest fatigued driver groups are night-shift drivers (61%) and commercial tractor-trailer drivers (56.6%). Regular drivers still make the list, but their risk level range between 3% to 20%.<\/p>\n
This guide explores: (1) \u201cmicrosleeping\u201d and its safety risks, and (2) driver fatigue monitoring and prevention strategies.<\/p>\n
You probably heard the expression \u201cfalling asleep at the wheel\u201d before. Unfortunately, this is a real thing. It\u2019s called \u201cmicro-sleeping\u201d and results in many traffic accidents.<\/p>\n
Micro-sleeping is when a person falls asleep or loses attention. It usually happens when someone is tired and is doing something mundane. Micro-sleep only happens for a few moments, but during those moments, can cause a traffic accident.<\/p>\n
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Let\u2019s take a look at another traffic officer survey. In that survey, officers shared some common symptoms of fatigued drivers. They include: inconsistent speed (84%), frequent lane weaving (84%), ignoring road signs and lights (65%), sudden braking (62%) and speeding (25%).<\/p>\n
All of these driving infractions increase accident risk. In fact, the CDC reports that there are 72,000 crashes every year.<\/p>\n
Sure, drowsy driving is dangerous. However, at the end of the day, what can people do for driver fatigue monitoring and prevention?<\/p>\n
Both drivers and fleet employers should share responsibilities. Drivers are responsible because they operate the vehicle and manage their sleep cycle. Fleets are also responsible because workers are the most likely fatigued drivers and fleets need to manage worker safety.<\/p>\n
Drivers are responsible for their sleep cycle and for avoiding micro-sleeping.<\/p>\n
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The most important step to avoiding driver fatigue is managing sleep cycles. Some good sleeping habits include:<\/p>\n
What should drivers do if they feel like sleeping while driving?<\/p>\n
Some drivers have strategies such as opening their window, talking to passengers, stopping to eat, and changing their music. Unfortunately, none of those strategies are effective.<\/p>\n
Officers advise that there are only 2 good strategies. First, drivers can swap with a passenger if their passengers are alert and know how to drive. Second, tired drivers can pull over and sleep.<\/p>\n
Fleets should also play a part in driver fatigue monitoring and prevention.<\/p>\n
One strategy is monitoring drivers for erratic driving. As previously mentioned, some common symptoms include speed changes, lane weaving and sudden brakes.<\/p>\n
Some fleets use an event recording camera to monitor fatigued drivers. For instance, if a supervisor notices a lot of event alarms for a driver, they can use livestream to investigate if the driver is fatigued.<\/p>\n