Alertness
Tiredness, distraction, concentration and safe decision-making.
Read the lesson
Stay fit to notice and decide
Safe driving starts before the car moves. Tiredness, alcohol, drugs, medicines and distractions all reduce the time you have to make a sound decision.
Start fit to drive
Sleep, illness, stress, alcohol and some medicines can all reduce concentration. Check medicine labels and professional advice, and do not drive when your judgement or reactions may be affected.
- Avoid alcohol completely when you plan to drive.
- Never drive under the influence of drugs.
- If medicine makes you sleepy, dizzy or slow to react, do not drive.
Manage tiredness early
Tiredness does not arrive all at once. Repeated yawning, heavy eyelids, wandering thoughts and missed signs are reasons to stop safely, not reasons to push on.
- Plan at least a 15-minute break after every two hours of driving.
- Avoid starting a long journey when you would normally be asleep.
- A short nap in a safe place can help; an open window is not a cure.
Protect your attention
A glance away can hide a developing hazard. Set the route, temperature and audio before moving, and let a passenger handle anything that can wait.
- Hand-held phone use is illegal while driving, including while stationary in traffic.
- Hands-free use can still distract you.
- Stop somewhere safe before dealing with a call, message or route problem.
A short break is not a cure for sleep deprivation
Plan at least 15 minutes’ rest after two hours of driving, but stop sooner if tired. A short nap and caffeine can provide a temporary measure; adequate sleep is the real solution. An open window or louder music does not make a tired driver safe.
Work through an example
Situation 1You begin missing road signs during a late journey.
What to do
Find a safe place to stop and rest, rather than trying to keep yourself awake while driving.
Why
Missed signs and wandering attention are evidence that your driving is already affected. Do not wait until you actually fall asleep.
Situation 2A message arrives while you wait at red lights.
What to do
Leave the phone alone. Deal with it only after stopping safely and legally.
Why
Being stationary in traffic is still driving. The red signal is not a break from the hand-held-device rules.
Common mistakes
- Treating coffee as a substitute for sleep
- Checking a phone while stopped in a queue
- Driving because a medicine is available without prescription
Now try it for yourself
Practise this topic one question at a time. Each answer includes a clear explanation.