Driving an HGV might look to the outside world like you’re sitting there doing not much, but as you’ll know it can actually be very hard and tiring work. Even more so when you’re working night shifts and need to keep your truck on the road for many hours through the night.
That’s why we’ve decided to put together this guide to help you stay awake when you’re driving, and keep yourself, the public, and other members of the HGV community safe.
You Snooze You Lose: The Dangers Of Crashing
Unfortunately, it is sometimes the case that things can go very wrong when drivers are too tired. According to BBC News, tragic Alexander Fraser, 50, was killed instantly when his HGV drifted over to the wrong side of the A9, near Kingussie, and crashed into an Argos lorry. The driver of the Argos lorry, James Kenmure, was injured in the crash and reported that he thought he was going to die when he saw Mr Fraser’s lorry heading towards him.
What makes this accident even more tragic is that Mr Fraser – an experienced night shift driver for HSS – had been suffering from trouble with sleeping during the day because of roadworks near his house. This terrible set of circumstances could happen to any HGV driver who isn’t taking extra care to ensure they’re alert behind the wheel – whether working during the day or night.
According to Birmingham mail, The police have now started to monitor drivers from a special unmarked HGV to look out for anything drivers are doing that might be distracting them from the road, including if they’re having trouble staying awake or are distracted on the job.
Being tired can therefore get you into trouble even if you don’t have an actual accident, so these tips really are vital.
Top Tips For HGV Drivers
Whether you’re trying to get to sleep, trying to wake up for your shift, or trying to stay alert on the road, we’ve gathered some of the best tips around:
- According to The Sleep Foundation, a bedtime ritual, comfortable pillows and mattress, and a regular sleep schedule are a must when you’re trying to get your sleep on track.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in America also recommend getting diagnosed for possible sleep disorders if you find yourself unable to control your sleeping patterns.
- If you need to sleep during the day, set aside at least 8 hours and make sure you go to bed at the right time, whether you feel like it or not. Adults generally need 7 to 8 hours sleep to function best.
- Getting to sleep isn’t always as simple as lying down with your eyes closed and waiting. Sometimes you need a little extra help, and these tips from The Huffington Post might help. They include making sure your room is quiet and dark, so blackout curtains are a great investment, and so are earplugs if you need them.
- Avoid coffee and caffeinated drinks 6 hours before you need to get to sleep, and don’t drink alcohol before you go to bed either.
- Have a bath or a shower before you go to bed. The cooling of your body temperature afterwards can help send you to sleep, and the warmth of the water itself can soothe and relax you.
- Keep your room cool. If you’re trying to sleep then you might think you need your room to be extra cosy, but in fact the air circulating in your room needs to be quite cool. As long as you have enough blankets to ensure you’re comfortable then you should find that a cool room means you sleep much better.
- Don’t look at your phone, computer or tablet before you go to bed, because this can stimulate your brain into making you stay awake even when you’re tired. Many people get into the habit of doing this because they can’t sleep, thinking they’ll put it away when they get tired enough, without realising their devices are actually stopping them from getting tired enough.
- If you really must look at one of these devices, install a blue light cancelling app on it light Twilight, which makes your screen appear reddish and stops you from seeing the kind of light that keeps your brain wide awake.
- Roadmaster also has a whole section on tips just for HGV drivers. It’s more of an overview, but it might help you remember the basics such as light, food and drink, and surrounding conditions.
How To Stay Alert
When you’re on the job you might find yourself feeling sluggish, even if you’re not dangerously tired. There are plenty of ways to combat this, either as part of a healthier waking up routine or as the occasional boost when you need it:
- Drink some water as soon as you wake up, as it refreshes your tired body and helps you to feel wide awake.
- As soon as you can when you get up do some exercise. It can be anything at all that gets your body moving. Many experts say that exercise when you wake up also has the added benefit of burning a bit more body fat because you’ve not had any food to burn off yet.
- Drinking caffeine once you’re on the job keeps your mind alert, and can help you to stay sharp. Coffee and energy drinks can help.
- Circulating some cool air around the cabin will help you to stay sharp, because warm environments can make you feel drowsier.
- Listening to something you find interesting or stimulating, like a great audiobook or high energy music can help keep you alert and prevent boredom, which can lead to tiredness.
Know When To Pull Over
The most important thing you need to know is when you should abandon your attempts to stay awake, and pull over instead. If you’re having trouble concentrating, if your eyelids are heavy, if you’re forgetting where you are or where you’ve been, or you’re really finding it a struggle to stay awake, pull over immediately when you get to a safe place.
If you’re tired and you find that you start to drift away from your lane, don’t even think twice, pull over as soon as you can and make a call if you need to, letting your employer know you need to take a break. No employer on earth would want you to drive in this state, and they all know that being late for a job is infinitely better than causing a terrible accident.
Any tips?
If you’re an experienced night shift driver and have any tips to add, let us know in the comments below. “Leave sooner, drive slower, live longer” – Drive Safe Folks!
