Driver Fatigue
May 2023
Driver fatigue management
Research shows that driver fatigue may be a contributory factor in up to 20% of road incidents, and up to one quarter of fatal and serious incidents.
It’s a huge risk for fleets, drivers and for the general public – and commercial vehicle drivers are vulnerable to fatigue due to demanding workloads and high mileage.
Fatigue can mean tiredness, loss or concentration, or sleepiness. It affects your coordination, your reaction times and your ability to process what’s happening around you. It causes poor lane discipline, poor speed control, irrational responses and a host of other risky behaviours.
To protect drivers and the public from the effects of fatigue, those who manage and run fleets should:
- educate drivers about fatigue
- encourage good sleep patterns and create a culture in which genuine fatigue is a legitimate reason for not driving
- ensure that shift pattern and organisational pressures do not create undue fatigue in drivers
What Fleet Managers can do to manage Driver Fatigue:
- Educate drivers about fatigue
- Encourage good sleep patterns and create a culture in which genuine fatigue is a legitimate reason for not driving
- Ensure that shift pattern and organisational pressures do not create undue fatigue
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In the news – Driver Fatigue
Failure to Manage Driver Fatigue
This company was been fined £450,000 after its failure to manage driver fatigue led to a tragic double fatality. The company was also ordered to pay £300,000 costs bringing the total to £750,000, which it has two and a half years to pay.
Van death prosecution highlights driver fatigue dangers
“Today’s tragic case shows the fatal consequences that can occur when fatigue policies are disregarded.”