How GPS Tracker Devices Can Help Employee Drowsy Drivers
24 Jan 2013A recent survey conducted by theAAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that close to half of drivers have fallen asleep at the wheel.
According to the study, approximately 40% of drivers have fallen asleep while driving and 17% of fatal car accidents are caused by drowsy driving. What’s more, one in eight motor vehicle crashes involving drowsy drivers cause a visit to a hospital. These statistics are startling and show just how dangerous driving while you are tired or feeling drowsy can be.
“The best defense is to get a good night’s sleep prior to travelling,” says Ronald A. Popper, MD, FCCP, FAASM, of the Southern California Pulmonary and Sleep Disorders Medical Center. “Allow adequate travel time in case of traffic accidents or road construction.”
In addition to getting a good night’s sleep and allowing adequate travel time, Popper offers the following advice for staying alert while driving, whether driving for work or on for personal reasons, to help potentially fatal situations.
Tips for Staying Alert while driving:
Share the driving. If there are other passengers in the vehicle, they can help share the burden of driving. On long road trips, be sure to take shifts of no more than a couple hours at a time. The other passengers are able to rest and no one driving is in charge of the vehicle for too long.
Stay alert while driving. Drivers who are just starting to feel sleepy, but aren’t yet in a full-blown drowsy state, can do some things to stay alert. Try opening the windows, talking to any other passengers in the car, or turning up the radio. However, avoid using your cell phone or letting the radio distract you from proper driving.
Pay attention to the signs. Look out for signs of drowsy driving such as heavy eyelids, yawning excessively, not being able to concentrate, missing your exit, and drifting out of your lane. If you notice any of these signs while driving, pull the car over in a safe place and rest. If you’re so tired you aren’t able to concentrate on your driving, staying alert by turning up the radio or opening the windows isn’t going to help. Be sure to stop somewhere safe, such as a rest stop, and get at least a 20-minute nap. This should get you rested enough to get home.
Take breaks. When on a long car ride, stop the car and stretch your legs at least every 2-3 hours. You can also keep your circulation going while in the car by stretching your feet and wiggling your toes when you’re parked. These breaks along with drinking caffeine before you get in the car, can help you stay alert and focused on driving during these long trips.
These aren’t the only tips for helping keep employee drowsy drivers at bay. By installing a GPS fleet tracking device in company vehicles, employers are able to track real-time data of their drivers such as their speed limit, idle time, and aggressive driving; all of which can signal to drowsy driving. The GPS vehicle tracking device is installed in the company vehicle and sends automatic alerts when the employee is driving sporadically or aggressively.
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