When is a tired trucker dangerous?

Truck drivers have a dangerous job. In addition to driving large vehicles with heavy loads, they also work long hours.

Spending a lot of time on the road can also mean that drivers do not get the sleep they need. While they have specifically regulated breaks, they may not get the restful sleep they need to be alert on the road. These drowsy drivers can make for hazardous situations on the road.

Here’s what you should know about the dangers of sharing a road with an overtired trucker.

Is being tired trouble?

For many, driving while a little tired is not uncommon. Whether you had a long day at work or are driving after a restless night of trying to sleep, you may already be familiar with overcoming tiredness behind the wheel.

The biggest problem with overtired drivers is that exhaustion can dramatically slow their reaction time. Often, it can be challenging to determine if they are too tired to be on the road until there is a situation where their reflexes fail.

Watching for tired truckers

There are going to be drowsy drivers on the road. The best way to keep yourself and your passengers safe is to watch for signs, such as:

• Drifting out of their lane
• Having difficulty maintaining speed
• Hitting rumble strips
• Braking frequently

When you see a driver who looks like they are having difficulty staying awake, try giving them as much space as possible. Since they will have slower reaction times, creating more space gives them more time to react to changes as they happen.