Drowsy or fatigued driving is one of the major causes of road accidents. Due to a busy day or hectic schedule, people are sometimes forced to drive a car when they are not a hundred percent alert. Enrol yourself in any reputed driving school in Blacktown and an important lesson they teach is that driving when feeling tired or sleepy should be avoided at all times. Below are a few crucial signs from your body that mean you are not equipped to drive.
Excessive yawning
Some of the most common signs of utter exhaustion include frequent yawning, constant eye rubbing, and even watery eyes for few people. One or two yawns are not something to worry about, but if you find yourself yawning excessively, read it as a clear sign that your body needs rest. Driving in such a condition is not advised.
Nodding head
When you’re extremely tired, your body tends to go into sleep mode. Ever woken up from sudden sleep by your head hitting your chest? It happens after a micro-sleep, which is a common sign of driver fatigue. It basically means you go unconscious for a nanosecond. But when you’re driving a car on the road, even a nanosecond of sleep can be disastrous. Hence, if you find yourself nodding away to sleep, do not sit behind the driver’s wheel.
Slow reaction time
The first lesson that any good driving school in Blacktown will give you is to stay alert. When you take out a vehicle on the road, your entire concentration needs to be on your surroundings. Following the traffic lights, keeping an eye out on your rear and side-view mirrors, maintaining a safe distance from the car in front of you – an overtired driver may forget to keep a check on all these factors. Exhaustion can lead to a slower reaction time, which can result in accidents. For example, if the car in front of you suddenly puts a break, and you’re not in an alert state of mind, you will end up bumping with the other car.
Erratic speed
Tiredness can make your driving speed fluctuate. Without a conscious thought of what they’re doing, drivers tend to slow down as they yawn or nod off and then again speed up when they are alert once again. This constant change in speed can lead to reckless driving and be dangerous for the other vehicles and pedestrians around you.
Bad gear changes
If you’re driving a manual or semi-automatic car, you need to put in some effort in changing the gears while driving. And when you feel excessively tired, your body might lack the energy to even shift the gears smoothly. If this happens, take some time out to freshen up before taking on the wheels again.
Concentration problems
Exhaustion doesn’t always mean you will feel drowsy. Sometimes, it just leads to a lack of focus, which is also not a great thing when driving. If you find your eyes wandering from the road more often than usual, it might be an early sign of tiredness. A lack of concentration is not good for the road and if you find yourself unable to focus, you must not be driving.
Conclusion
When you take the wheel of a car, you must be fully alert and awake. Even the smallest amount of negligence on the road can result in accidents. This is why every good driving school in Blacktown worth its money will tell you the same thing – do not drive when feeling too tired. For more helpful driving instructions and tips, contact BTB Driving School.
