DRUGS AND ALCOHOL
Use of drugs and alcohol impair a driver’s
ability to safely use a vehicle. A driver with
a BAC level of .05 is twice as likely to be
involved in a crash, and the presence
of alcohol increases the susceptibility to
injury if involved in a crash. The presence
of cannabis and the drug methyl-
amphetamine increases the risk of being
involved in fatal crashes. Drivers also
need to be aware of the influence of any
medications prior to driving.
How to reduce risk:
• adopting a zero drugs and alcohol
policy for work related driving
• avoiding or minimising the use of alcohol
prior to driving
• complying with road rules in relation to
the prescribed level of alcohol
• using transport alternatives at functions
with alcohol (designated driver, taxis)
• taking into account the influence of
medications before driving
FATIGUE
Fatigue is mental or physical tiredness that
affects a person’s ability to function. It may
impair performance by reducing attentiveness,
slowing reaction times, affecting judgement
and reducing performance on skilled control
tasks. It is estimated that fatigue is a factor
in up to 25% of crashes. Being awake for 17
hours is estimated to cause a similar level of
impairment to a .05 BAC level.
Signs of driver fatigue, such as lane drifting,
variations in speed, delayed reactions and
reduced concentration, indicate there is already
a risk. Individuals are unreliable judges of their
level of fatigue. Consequently, the role of the
employer in planning and scheduling work to
minimise fatigue is paramount.
How to reduce risk:
• sharing the driving
• using alternatives, such as public transport
or taxis
• planning longer trips to allow for regular
breaks
• encouraging drivers to take power naps if
sleepy
• minimising night driving (avoid driving at
times when you’d normally be sleeping)
• enabling staff to sleep overnight in motels
where necessary
• providing information on sleep, nutrition
and drinks, such as water and coffee.
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ISSUE 19 2019 / WWW.AFMA.ORG.AU