Every year, many thousands of Danes go on holiday. However, many of them struggle with fatigue behind the wheel. And that paves the way to a more insecure place.
Every third motorist has experienced fatigue during long journeys, which can make the roads unsafe. Traffic can quickly become dangerous when drivers are not paying attention, and fatigue behind the wheel is a major cause of this.
A survey by the GF Foundation shows that over a third of Danish motorists who have short, long journeys in connection with a holiday have felt too tired to continue the journey. At the same time, 21 percent have cards for more than 11 hours without a break on the way to or from their holiday destination.
Director of Damage Assistance at GF Forsikring, Martin Rundager, warns of the risk of fatigue behind the wheel.
– When you get tired, attention drops, and this can have serious consequences for both yourself and other road users. Fatigue is a major contributing factor in fatal accidents, so it is important to take long journeys seriously, especially when you are on holiday, says a press release .
According to figures from the Road Directorate, inattention and insufficient orientation play a role in 60 percent of fatal traffic accidents.
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One of the biggest reasons for this is precisely fatigue during traffic. Sleep expert Birgitte Hintz emphasizes how lack of sleep affects drivers' driving skills:
– Fatigue reduces the ability to concentrate and makes it more difficult to react correctly in traffic. If you have been awake for 15 hours, this is the equivalent of drinking alcohol with a blood alcohol level of 0.5.
– In addition, the brain can briefly "switch off" for a few seconds, even if the eyes are open, and during that time you can lose full control of the choreotrain, she says.
If you are too tired to drive safely, it is also punishable according to the Road Traffic Act, which requires that you can drive your car safely.
To avoid fatigue on long road trips, the GF Foundation offers several pieces of advice to motorists:
- Make sure you are rested before a long choir ride, preferably after a good night's sleep.
- Take breaks along the way where you can take a nap or stretch your legs.
- Drink coffee and plan longer stops or overnight stays on the longest stretches.
- Passengers can also help keep an eye out for signs of fatigue, such as a change in mood and inattention.
Source: Surskudtilhinanden.dk
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