As South Africans embark on seasonal journeys and attend year-end celebrations, road safety experts are issuing a critical alert: the heightened threat of drowsy driving. A combination of long-distance travel, late nights, and irregular sleep patterns is turning the festive period into a peak time for fatigue-related accidents.
Eugene Herbert, CEO of MasterDrive, emphasises driver fatigue is not a sudden event, but a creeping danger. “It’s a gradual process where your body sends a series of warning signals,” he explains. “Recognising and heeding these signs early is the key to preventing a tragedy.”
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Herbert outlines the progression of fatigue, urging drivers to act at the first hint of symptoms.
The Early Warnings
The initial signs are subtle but significant. Drivers may notice an increased blink rate, heavier eyelids, and repeated yawning. Focus can waver, making road signs seem blurred. “A major red flag is when your mind starts to wander,” notes Herbert. “If you can’t recall the last few kilometres you’ve driven, that’s your cue to take a break immediately.”
Physical Control Begins to Slip
As fatigue deepens, physical impairment becomes clear. Drivers may struggle to keep their head upright, experience involuntary nodding, and find it difficult to maintain a steady speed. Lane discipline often suffers, with drifting and abrupt steering corrections. “Some describe a feeling of disconnection, as if they’re watching themselves drive,” says Herbert.
The Invisible Crisis: Micro-Sleeps
The most perilous phase often goes unnoticed by the driver. “Micro-sleeps are brief, uncontrollable lapses into sleep, lasting mere seconds. Your eyes might even stay open, but you are essentially unconscious,” Herbert warns. “In just three seconds, a car can travel the length of a rugby field with no one in control. This is when drivers miss exits and their reaction times vanish.”
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Judgement Falters
Fatigue also corrupts judgement and mood. Drivers may become irritable, restless, and find their memory for landmarks falters. The ability to accurately judge distances deteriorates, compounding the risk.
Herbert’s advice is unequivocal: ignore these signs at your peril. “The ‘push-through’ mentality is a killer. When you feel it, act. Pull over safely, take a short walk, or have a 20-minute power nap. Your destination will still be there after a rest, but the window to avoid a catastrophe closes fast,” he concludes.
With roads expected to be busy, the message is clear: this holiday season, prioritising alertness behind the wheel is as crucial as any other safety precaution.
Colin Windell for Colin-on-Cars in association with
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