As we enter into the month of June, and the start of the festive summer season the BRSC would like to re-introduce their monthly topic – Alert Today – Alive Tomorrow, with an emphasis on sleep deprived driving.

Sleep-deprived driving (commonly known as tired driving, drowsy driving or fatigued driving) is the operation of a motor vehicle while being cognitively impaired by a lack of sleep. When a person does not get an adequate amount of sleep which is 7 or more hours, their ability to function is affected. If a person is driving while sleep deprived their coordination, reaction time, judgment and memory are impaired, which is similar to drunk driving.

If you are driving and experience frequent yawning, dozing off, tired eyes, droopy eyes, an increase in blinking, drifting into other lanes and difficulty focusing on the road these may be signs of sleep deprived driving. If you experience any of these symptoms you should pull over, stop your vehicle and do not attempt to start it again until you are fully awake.

Anyone who drives can be affected by sleep deprivation, but certain people are at a higher risk of being involved in an accident related to sleep-deprived driving, including:

• People who drive for a living such as taxi drivers, bus drivers, truck drivers, etc.
• People who work long hours, irregular shifts or night shifts
• People with sleep problems such as insomnia or other sleep disorders

So before you get behind the wheel always make sure your alertness and sense of caution is not affected by alcohol or fatigue. Always ensure that you have had sufficient amount of sleep and if you plan to consume alcohol make sure you have a plan to get home safely.

With the upcoming holiday weekend the BRSC would like to remind the motoring public that road safety is everyone’s responsibility so we encourage you to do your part in keeping our roads safe.

To all event planners we encourage you to incorporate a Transportation Plan to ensure that your guest get to and from your event safely. If you require any assistance with your transportation plan you can reach out the BRSC via email bdarsc@gmail.com.

Be safe and have a happy holiday and remember to drive with care and caution, don’t drink and drive and slow down.

Cautious Drivers = Safer Roads = Safer Bermuda

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