Reducing your rest stops makes your driving more dangerous

When you take a road trip, the more time you spend behind the wheel without a break, the greater your risk of having an accident. It is not just you who is at risk of driver fatigue, but also all other road users. Driver fatigue is one of the main causes of traffic accidents and the condition can be aggravated by the hypnotic effect of staring at the road for hours on end.

In July 2009, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) announced the closure of almost half of the interstate rest areas within the state. These cost-saving measures increased the potential for accidents and left truckers and other drivers without a safe area to take a break. One of Govt. Bob McDonnell’s promises during his campaign for governor were to reopen closed rest areas. All Virginia rest areas will be open again on April 15, 2010. Rest areas are there to keep you safe and help you take a break on long drives.

There are symptoms to look for when driving:

– Feel sleepy;

– Fixation on the vehicle in front or on the center line;

– Feeling tense or anxious;

– Swerve smoothly out of the lane, either to the near side or into offside traffic lanes; gold

– Loss of concentration and attention.

It is vital that you take steps to address driver fatigue and this starts with planning your trip. Plan your route so you know where and when you can stop and take a break; even taking five minutes to grab a coffee or stretch out of the vehicle will make a big difference in your concentration and alertness levels. With many states closing rest stops, it’s more important than ever to plan ahead.

Don’t start your trip tired – make sure you are alert and awake enough to drive safely. Make sure you get enough sleep before going on a long road trip, and never drive if you feel impaired by lack of sleep.

Don’t rely on coffee and caffeine to keep you alert for hours; the effects of caffeine can provide a “jolt” to the system and make you feel revived and alert. In practice, it is not your feeling of being alert that counts; it is how alert and receptive you actually are. Too much caffeine in your system will lead to an inability to react properly in a driving situation, and can also lead to an inability to focus on the driving task at hand.

Take regular rest stops in a safe area; stopping on the side of the road is a high-risk event. When a vehicle collides with a parked vehicle stopped on the side of the road, a fatality is normal, but serious injuries are common. The road side should only be used in emergencies and not take a break.

Whenever possible, share the drive with your passengers so everyone gets a break and this will ensure the driver is always alert and focused on getting you to your destination safely and in good shape.