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Fatigue and Drowsy Driving
Fatigue is a leading cause of fatal crashes in Australia. It slows your reaction time as much as alcohol. There is no legal limit on hours driven for a private car licence, but driving impaired by fatigue can still be an offence.
Key Rules
- On long trips, take a 15-minute break every 2 hours: pull over safely, rest, and do not continue if drowsy.
- Warning signs of fatigue: heavy eyes, yawning, drifting lanes, can't remember the last few kilometres.
- Driving while fatigued is an offence: police can issue infringement notices if your driving shows fatigue signs.
Common Mistakes
- Thinking coffee or loud music can replace sleep: they mask fatigue temporarily but do not reduce driving impairment.
- Driving more than 5 hours without a break: fatigue builds up progressively and micro-sleeps can occur.
Practical Example
Ahmed drives 4 hours to visit family and starts yawning repeatedly. The safest action is to pull off the highway, find a rest area, and sleep for at least 20 minutes before continuing.
Quick Check
- How often should you take a break on a long trip? → At least every 2 hours, for at least 15 minutes.
- Can drinking coffee before driving prevent fatigue? → No, only proper sleep can effectively combat fatigue.
Source: Based on the Drive Safe handbook — Department of Transport (WA).