Fatigue Is One of the Main Causes of Truck Accidents

Being a truck driver isn’t as easy as it looks. Apparently, even if you enjoy long rides, being a truck driver is still taxing. One of the challenges that they often face is fatigue that could cause negative effects not just on their health but also on their safety too.

As a driver, how can you avoid it? Here are some tips.

Sleep the Night Before

One of the main causes of fatigue in drivers is not having adequate sleep. Without proper sleep, even just for a day, your mind will find it hard to focus and concentrate. When this happens to you, it would become harder to drive as you might find it hard to pay attention to the road. As a result, you’re more at risk of accidents.

So, if you know you’re scheduled for a long ride, make sure to get enough sleep the night before. This way, you’ll feel more energized and you won’t get easily distracted while on the road.

Take a Break If You Need To

Accidents on the road happen for different reasons. Contrary to what many people think, truck accident caused by mechanical failure isn’t the only possible reason why road accidents happen. It could also be due to the driver’s fatigue, which causes them to not be able to think fast and concentrate better.

And sometimes, even if you’ve had enough sleep the night before, you may also feel sleepy during the day, especially after certain physical activities that could drain your energy. When this happens, many drivers usually like to fight it off and resort to taking drinks high in caffeine, such as colas, coffee, or energy drinks, to keep them alert.

True enough, it will give you an energy boost, but only for a short time. After that, you’ll feel tired again. What you can do is to take a break instead. Stop for a while and get some rest. Even a short nap will go a long way.

Improve Your Sleep Hygiene

Speaking of sleeping, another way to ensure that you get enough sleep and wake up refreshed is to improve your sleep hygiene, which means you should strive to have consistent bedtimes, even on weekends and when traveling. This will help your body clock get used to a routine so you won’t feel sleepy in the middle of the day.

As part of your sleep hygiene, it’s also a must that you optimize your sleep space. Meaning, you should ensure a dark, quiet, and comfortable room to sleep in. So, you can get straight z’s.

Of course, it’s also highly recommended to keep electronics out of the bedroom. This is because of the blue light that they emit, which could affect your sleep. Thus, one hour before your bedtime, turn off any electronics. If you’re not able to sleep right away, reading a book will help a lot.

Like electronics, anything with caffeine may also affect your sleep. Yes, for some people, a cup of coffee works to help them sleep fast. However, it can affect your sleep cycle. So, you’ll find that you don’t feel refreshed and light when you wake up. Therefore, it’s best to avoid it before bedtime too.

Plan Your Route

If you’re expecting a long ride, another way to avoid fatigue and lessen your risks of getting involved in road accidents is to plan your route. You might find this a little bit extra but this will help you a lot.

If you plan ahead, you’ll be able to know your route options. Thus, you’ll find which road will help you travel faster which can help you deliver your goods before your energy runs out. Doing this will also help you get a glimpse of the road you’re about to take. With this, you’ll know where you can take a rest if you suddenly feel tired and sleepy.

Talk to Your Doctor

Unfortunately, what’s causing your daytime sleepiness might be an underlying medical condition too, such as insomnia or other sleep disorders that are disrupting your sleep cycle. It’s normal if there are times when you don’t get inadequate sleep due to several factors. But, if you notice that the patterns are recurring, it’s always best to consult a doctor.

This way, you’re diagnosed correctly and you can get the right treatments you need. Plus, you’ll be guided correctly to improve your condition. This way, your sleep problems won’t get worse and cause negative effects on your work. Rest is often overlooked but it can affect your health and your safety in the long run.