A shocking video of a truck driver dozing off behind the steering wheel and he eventually loses control of the large vehicle and crashes.
The dashcam footage is from an incident in 2019 and was uploaded on SA Trucker’s Facebook page.
THE TRUCK DRIVER GOES INTO SHOCK ONCE HE LOSES CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE
The driver is so tired he shows signs of falling into microsleeps, these last from a few seconds to 30 seconds. According to road safety group Arrive Alive, microsleeps are uncontrollable and the longer you are awake the more frequently they occur.
Watch the incident below and check out our tips to stay safe on the road.
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ADVICE FOR REMAINING ALERT WHILE DRIVING
As driving is a safety critical task it is essential that you manage your tiredness on a long term basis by ensuring that you get regular good quality sleep. You also need to plan your journeys to include regular breaks at least every two hours, according to Arrive Alive.
Even with the best preparation possible, there will be times when you might have problems maintaining alertness behind the wheel. In these situations the best short-term advice is:
- If you are feeling tired STOP DRIVING
- Park somewhere safe
Don’t park on the hard shoulder. If you’re on the motorway, take the next exit and find somewhere safe to park, or stop at the next motorway service area. - If necessary call someone to let them know you may be late
- Have a couple of cups of strong coffee
- Followed by a 15-20 minute nap
Caffeine takes about 20 minutes to take effect, so use this “window of opportunity” to have a short nap of no more than 15-20 minutes. If you sleep for much longer than 20 minutes you can fall into a deep sleep and wake up feeling groggy (this feeling is known as sleep inertia). Please make sure you lock the doors before settling down for your nap.
