What is the correct approach when a driver is excessively fatigued?
2 Answers
When a driver is excessively fatigued, the correct approach is to stop and rest in a timely manner. Precautions for fatigued driving: Ensure adequate sleep, avoid alcohol and cold medications. Take appropriate breaks, create a comfortable driving environment, keep your eyes on the road, and use supplementary foods or items to help maintain focus. Avoid driving during peak fatigue periods. Hazards of fatigued driving: Decreased judgment: When fatigued, a driver's judgment deteriorates, reactions slow, and operational errors increase. Forgotten operations: With mild fatigue, a driver may shift gears untimely or inaccurately; with moderate fatigue, movements become sluggish, sometimes even forgetting operations; poor control: With severe fatigue, a driver may operate subconsciously or experience brief sleep episodes, potentially losing control of the vehicle.
When I feel tired while driving, I immediately find a safe place to pull over and rest, such as a service area or roadside parking zone. I never push through because slower reactions can easily lead to accidents. The risks of drowsy driving are high—it may cause rear-end collisions or loss of control. Every time I feel my eyes getting heavy or my reactions slowing down, I stop the car to take a 15-20 minute nap or drink some coffee to refresh myself before continuing the journey. I’ve also developed the habit of getting enough sleep before setting off to ensure I’m mentally alert, and for long trips, I take a break every two hours. Remember, safety always comes first—it’s far more important than rushing.
