Holiday road safety 2

12/29/24 • 1 min

Heading off on a long drive over the holiday period. Here’s a few simple tips to
manage fatigue one of the three big killers on our roads. The end of the working
day is certainly not the time to head off on that long drive. Statistics show you’re
four times more likely to have a fatal fatigue crash between the hours of 10pm
and dawn so don’t head off after a hard week at work – the highest number of
fatal crashes occur in the afternoon peak period on a Friday. Head off early
morning after a good sleep and a hearty breakfast when your energy levels are
high. Carry plenty of water. – as well as being well hydrated it also means more
toilet stops along the way. Good posture also lessens fatigue. As a guide, sit
upright - stretch out your left arm so that your palm touches the top of the wheel.
Adjust the seat length accordingly and bring the back of the seat up to give you
good lumbar support. Driving long distances is also hard on the eyes – glare is a
major contributor to fatigue so pull the sun visor down to the horizon and cut out
as much sky as possible. All simple stuff I know but it could well save your life.
I’m David Berthon

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Previous Episode

Holiday road safety 1

I talk about this at this time each year but it’s just so important - holiday time
and you may be about to take long road trip with the family. Time to give a little
thought to fatigue as it’s one of the three major killers on our roads – fatigue
related accidents now account for more deaths than those attributed to drink
driving. We now generally work longer hours. As such, fatigue is far more
prevalent so it’s no coincidence that the highest number of fatal crashes occur in
the afternoon peak period on a Friday. The end of the working day is not the time
to head off on that long drive into the country. Statistics show you’re four times
more likely to have a fatal fatigue crash between the hours of 10pm and dawn –
leave the next morning after a good sleep and a hearty breakfast when your
energy levels are high. Carry plenty of water. Share the driving – one hour on -
one hour off and take 15-minute break every two hours. Long distance driving
with the family is all about teamwork - never let your front seat passenger nod off.
Keep the rear seat solely for the sleepers, A talkative front passenger is another
set of eyes. I’m David Berthon

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Next Episode

Interesting result from a recent Future of Driving survey

As a long-standing car enthusiast, I was interested in a recent U.S. survey by the
auction house Hagerty. For some time now it has been thought the love of the
automobile evident with older generations would die off moving forward.
However, the survey found the Gen-Z generation, those born between 1997 and
2012, had a significantly greater interest in owning a classic car of example than
Baby Boomers born between 1946 and 1964. The ‘Future of Driving Survey
quizzed Americans about the role that cars play in their life, their behaviours tied
to cars and driving, the role of new cars and a lot more. Contrary to what was
previously thought, driving is alive and well, 77 percent of Gen-Z respondents
saying they either loved or liked driving, indicating a promising future for the car.
Motoring it seems is alive and well. I’m David Berthon

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