How is Fatigue Driving Determined for Private Vehicles?
3 Answers
Continuous driving of a motor vehicle for more than 4 hours without stopping to rest or with a rest period of less than 20 minutes is considered fatigue driving. The following are the hazards of fatigue driving: 1. Impact on driving: When a driver is fatigued, their judgment declines, reactions slow down, and operational errors increase. When a driver is mildly fatigued, they may shift gears untimely or inaccurately. When moderately fatigued, their movements become sluggish, and they may even forget to operate the vehicle. In cases of severe fatigue, drivers often perform actions subconsciously or experience brief episodes of sleep, potentially losing control of the vehicle in serious situations. 2. Risk to road safety: Fatigued drivers may experience blurred vision, back pain, stiff movements, swollen hands or feet, lack of concentration, slow reactions, incomplete thinking, mental distraction, anxiety, or irritability. If they continue to drive under these conditions, it may lead to traffic accidents.
Fatigue driving is determined regardless of the vehicle type, and private cars are equally subject to penalties. If police officers on patrol notice you driving erratically or reacting slowly—such as weaving between lanes or hitting the curb—they may pull you over for inspection and require a fatigue test. With over a decade of driving experience, I've seen many private car owners fined or penalized for driving continuously for more than 4 hours without rest. In one accident case, the at-fault party was directly ruled as fatigued driving, resulting in staggering losses. It's advisable to ensure adequate sleep before driving and take a 20-minute break every 2 hours during the trip to hydrate and stretch. Some in-car systems now monitor fatigue signals, like lane departure warnings, which also help police identify targets and mitigate risks.
From a safety perspective, fatigue driving is also easy to identify in private cars. I learned during fleet training that signs like drooping eyelids or slowed reactions—such as frequent yawning or missing exits—can be recognized by police or in-vehicle monitoring systems. The key is self-awareness: if you feel drowsy, don’t push through; pull over at a rest area for a 20-minute nap. On long drives, bring coffee or cooling balm to stay alert, or arrange for a co-passenger to take turns driving. Fatigue driving not only endangers yourself but also others—I know a novice driver who dozed off on the highway, rear-ended another car, and was deemed fully liable, paying hefty compensation. Developing good habits is the most reliable approach.
