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Avoiding an Accident: The Overworked Lorry Driver’s Guide

By: Luke Humble

Everybody knows that tiredness is a major cause of traffic accidents, and everybody knows that lorry drivers work a huge amount of hours. Unsurprisingly, the two often combine with catastrophic results – indeed, a recent report revealed that of all the accidents that involved injuries or deaths on British roads over the last 5 years, 31% of them involved lorry drivers – a figure far worse on the M20 in Kent, where the figure hit 40%. The fact that lorries only make up around 8% of the traffic on A roads and motorways just goes to show that this is a very real problem. But if the hours are long and tiredness is a factor (and the DVLA think that up to one fifth of all accidents fall into this bracket), then what can the poor overworked haulier do to avoid disaster? Here’s a list of some tips that may help you stay in control on your next haulage job:

Avoiding Sleepiness

Of course the best thing to do to avoid feeling drowsy behind the wheel of your haulage vehicle is to be sure you’ve had a good night’s sleep. This is easier said than done for those with haulage jobs. Early morning starts and shift work don’t help either (which again can’t be avoided in our industry). If you know that you’re going to be pushing a deadline, and breaks will not be as readily available, try to get as much sleep as possible before heading off.

There are other factors involved in sleepiness of course – you may feel a lot more drowsy immediately after eating a large meal, or if you have to break up your routine. Indeed, such changes mean you may find yourself feeling especially drowsy between the hours of midnight and 6am, and 2pm and 4pm. If you can avoid taking haulage jobs around these times, you’ll feel all the better for it. Finally, medication can have an impact – if you’re working, be sure to read the label carefully and ideally find one which doesn’t list drowsiness as a possible side effect. Taking regular breaks from driving is good advice to prevent the overwhelming urge to sleep.

If you feel sleepy…

But it’s human to feel tired sometimes, no matter how well you prepare, so what should you do if you find yourself feeling sleepy on a haulage job? Well the first thing to note is that the common wisdom of playing the radio loudly or opening a window is only a temporary solution and won’t keep you awake for long! Instead of relying on these as the solution, use them as temporary means get you to a lorry stop for some rest. The first signs of tiredness should not be ignored, and taking a break as soon as you feel tiredness coming in can actually be more productive in the long run. A 20 minute break when you feel tired is often remarkably effective, and can leave you feeling completely refreshed and ready to finish the haulage job! Combining a quick nap in a lorry stop with a couple of cups of coffee can be just the pick me up to ensure you stay safe on the road.

As for coffee, remember that it will take 20-30 minutes for caffeine to make you feel more alert, so it’s best to have a cup the second you feel the first tell-tale signs of drowsiness, not when you’re struggling to keep your eyes open!

Being a lorry driver is a tiring job – there are long and unsociable hours, combined with repetitive work, it’s inevitable that you will feel sleepy at points. Thankfully, if you follow the advice in this guide, you should avoid causing unnecessary risk to yourself and others.

Article Source: http://www.bigfreearticles.com

Everybody knows that tiredness is a major cause of traffic accidents, and everybody knows that lorry drivers work a huge amount of hours Unsurprisingly, the two often combine with catastrophic results – indeed, a recent report revealed that of all the accidents that involved injuries or deaths on British roads over the last 5 years, 31% of them involved lorry drivers – a figure far worse on the M20 in Kent, where the figure hit 40%

About the Author:
Lyall Cresswell is the Managing Director for the Transport Exchange Group. Haulage Exchange, their freight exchange for the 7.5 tonne and above market, offers an independent environment for its members to exchange their haulage jobs.

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