At OPTALERT, we believe the human, emotional and financial cost of fatigue related incidents is too high. Using our scientifically proven, patented technology, we work to reduce the cost of fatigue related incidents, save lives and mitigate risk for business, society and the individual.

As a world leader in quantifying the “fatigue risk profile” of an individual or company, OPTALERT is able to measure in real-time the alertness level of a driver during a journey.

In addition to this technology, it is important that individuals have a clear understanding of the severe dangers that drowsiness presents to drivers.

Fatigue Vs Drowsiness – What’s the Difference?

Fatigue is often confused with drowsiness.

Fatigue is a subjective state of weariness, muscle aches or discomfort, and a disinclination to continue what you’ve been doing.

Drowsiness is the brain’s last step before falling asleep – often characterised by a lack of awareness of the “here-and now”. We all fluctuate between different levels of drowsiness.

Driving for many hours without a rest stop may cause you to feel fatigued, but not necessarily drowsy – but drowsiness is far more dangerous than fatigue when it comes to driver safety.

Causes of Drowsiness

Factors that can influence drowsiness include:

• How long you have been awake
• The duration and quality of your last sleep
• The time of day. Your biological clock (circadian rhythm) influences how alert and drowsy you are at certain times of the day. We typically feel sleepy during the early hours of the morning and mid-afternoon
• The presence of a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea. Symptoms of sleep apnea include heavy snoring, periods without breathing, restless sleep and constantly being tired during the day

The Risks of Drowsy Driving – Equal to Those of Driving While Drunk

Between 20-30% of all road accidents involve driver fatigue.

Drowsy drivers are often not aware of their condition and can lapse into a ‘micro-sleep’ that last only a few seconds – long enough to drive off the road and crash. Drowsy crashes tend to be the most severe in term of injury and death, as the driver makes no attempt to avoid or prevent the crash.

Studies show that going without sleep for 17 hours has the same effect on driving ability as a Blood Alcohol Concentration [BAC] of .05. Being awake for 36 hours has the same effect as a BAC of 0.1.

Circadian Rhythms – When are the Risks Greatest?

Circadian rhythms are the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle – regular changes in mental and physical characteristics that occur in the course of a day.

There are two periods of maximum sleepiness within the 24 hour cycle (circadian rhythm):

• In the morning between 2am and 4am
• In the afternoon between 2pm and 4pm

It is around these two periods of natural sleepiness that major accidents occur most frequently as a result of decreased alertness.

What are the Warning Signs

Physical Signs

By the time you are feeling drowsy, you may already have had a micro-sleep, which put you at significant risk of hurting yourself or others. The following signs can act as early warnings of impending drowsiness:

• Difficulty keeping eyes open
• Frequent and long blinks
• Staring blankly, with your eyes going in and out of focus
• Rubbing eyes and repeated yawning
• Head nodding

Cognitive Signs

• Loss of awareness of the “here and now”
• Increased risk-taking
• Impaired problem solving
• Slips and lapses
• Negative mood

Symptoms are often unique to the individual – try to identify your personal patterns to help be aware of and manage your fatigue before drowsiness become obvious.

Strategies for Dealing with Drowsiness

Used in association with OPTALERT, these strategies can help delay or manage the onset of drowsiness.  Ultimately though, the only way to overcome drowsiness is to sleep.

Optimise Sleep Opportunities

Managing your sleep schedule around the clock will make an enormous difference to your susceptibility to drowsiness. Tips for sleeping better include:

• Aim to achieve 7 or 8 hours of quality sleep out of every 24 hour cycle
• Try to maintain consistent wake up and bed times each day where possible
• Keep your bedroom dark and the curtains closed to keep out light
• Create a consistent pre-bed routine during which you wind down and relax
• Create a quiet and comfortable sleep environment
• Avoid caffeine in the later in the day
• Don’t use alcohol as a sleep aid

Nap when you need to

Napping is one of the most effective ways to combat drowsiness. When planning a nap in readiness for or during your shift, remember:

• Power naps of 15-30 minutes can partially overcome drowsiness
• Don’t exceed this duration unless there is time for a full sleep cycle, in which case a 1.5 to 2 hour nap is recommended.
• Allow at least 15 minutes after waking up to fully recover alertness before starting to drive.
• An effective strategy is to take caffeine first, then nap for 15-20 minutes by which time the caffeine will have begun to work. The combined effect of nap and caffeine is greater than either alone.

Myths About Fatigue

Let’s set the record straight on a few things:

MYTH: “I know my body and can tell when I’m at risk”

Drowsiness impacts on our judgement and our ability to react to warning signs.  No amount of experience will enable us to remain fully alert while drowsy.

MYTH: “Coffee or energy drinks are effective substitutes for sleep”

Caffeine has only a temporary effect on tiredness, and will wear off after 3 to 5 hours.  Regular caffeine intake will also reduce the stimulating impact.

MYTH: “Rolling the window down or turning up the music helps me wake up”

The only effective way to counteract your drowsiness while driving is to take a short 20-30 minute nap.

MYTH: “I have trained myself to be better at driving with less sleep”

Safe driving requires concentration, consideration, decision-making and judgement.  These things will be affected by drowsiness regardless of your experience.