Drivers are being urged to take steps against ending up in a fatigue-related crash as they head out onto the roads this weekend.
In B.C., those types of crashes peak in July and August, with an average of three people killed and 81 injured in each of those months, according to Insurance Corporation of British Columbia.
Moreover, in an ICBC survey, 30 per cent of respondents admitted that they have nodded off while driving and yet only 54 per cent of respondents said they think drivers fatigued from long hours of driving have a very serious impact on road safety.
There are signs why you may be too tired to be behind the wheel:
- You don't notice a vehicle until it suddenly passes you.
- You don't recall driving the last few kilometres.
- You're yawning or daydreaming.
- Your driving speed creeps up or down.
- You find yourself wandering into the next lane.
- Your eyes feel heavy or you have difficulty keeping your head up.
Here are some tips for preventing the problem:
- Make sure you are well-rested when you head out on your trip.
- Plan to take a rest break every two hours and identify the rest stops along your route ahead of time so you know where you can safely pull over.
- If possible, switch drivers every two hours. If you begin to feel drowsy and your passengers can't share the driving or you're driving alone, pull over when it's safe to do so and have a nap.
- Check out drivebc.ca for up-to-date road and weather conditions so you have a realistic estimate of how long your trip will take.
"Driving while fatigued or drowsy is a serious impairment," said B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police Traffic Safety Committee chair Neil Dubord. "Don't let the rush to get there cloud your judgment."
Over the B.C. Day long weekend, 28 people are injured in 110 crashes in North Central B.C. every year on average.
