PHYSICAL
READINESS OF
DRIVING
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WHAT IS FATIGUE?
IS THE WEARINESS RESULTING FROM
TOO MUCH PHYSICAL OR MENTAL
EXERATION.
FATIGUE IS DANGEROUS IF YOU ARE
DRIVING BECAUSE YOUR SENSES ARE
IMPAIRED.
1.
ATTENTION FATIGUE
2.
VISUAL FATIGUE
3.
MUSCULAR FATIGUE
4.
SLEEP FATIGUE
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Driver fatigue is a physiological and
psychological condition that significantly
affects driving ability and judgment. Sleepy
driving impairs alertness and response time
and increases the risk of accidents.
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Warning signs of driver fatigue include:
Daydreaming
Driving over the center line
Excessive yawning
Feeling impatient
Heavy eyes
Slow reactions
Stiffness.
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1. First and most importantly, get plenty of rest before you
need to drive anywhere. Sleep deprivation can creep up on
a person, so know that you have been getting proper sleep
that is neither uninterrupted nor fragmented.
2. Recognize the signs of driver fatigue: drowsiness,
difficulty focusing, blinking more than normal, yawning,
heavy eyelids, your head will nod, and rubbing your eyes.
If you have any of these symptoms or signs, don't
continue driving. Either avoid driving altogether, or have
someone else take over the wheel.
3. If you must continue driving, stop for frequent breaks.
Get out of the vehicle and move around; getting the blood
pumping through your body. Every two hours or 100 miles
is a good time frame to shoot for when taking breaks.
4. Schedule a travel buddy. This is someone who
could take your place driving if you get too
tired. This is especially important for very
long road trips.
5. Some other techniques that work for some
people are to open the windows to have the
cold air wake them, turn up the radio and
sing along, and consuming caffeine.
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BECAUSE SO MANY OF YOUR DECISIONS
AS A DRIVER ARE BASED ON WHAT YOU
SEE AND WHEN YOU SEE IT, GOOD
VISION IS ONE OF MOST IMPORTANT
PHYSICAL QUALITIES NECESSARY FOR
DRIVING.
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VISUAL ACUITY - IS THE ABILITY TO SEE
OBJECTS BOTH NEAR AND FAR.
FIELD OF VISION - IS THE AREA YOU
CAN SEE DIRECTLY IN OF YOU, TO THE
SIDES, AND STRAIGHT AHEAD.
PERIPHERAL VISION - Peripheral vision, or
side vision, is that part of vision that detects
objects outside the direct line of vision.
CENTRAL
VISION
PERIPHERAL
VISION
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DEPTH PERCEPTION – IS THE ABILITY TO
JUDGE THE DISTANCE BETWEEN TWO
OBJECTS.
COLOR VISION – IS THE ABILITY TO SEE
COLOR
COLOR BLINDNESS – IS THE INABILITY
TO DEFFERENTIATE BETWEEN CERTAIN
COLORS ………..RED AND GREEN
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HEARING GREATLY INCREASES YOUR
AWARENESS WHILE DRIVING. YOUR
EARS DETECT SOUNDS OF POTENTIAL
HAZARDS OUTSIDE THE CAR SUCH AS:
HORNS
SIRENS
TRAIN WHISTLES
HEARING ALSO TELLS YOU:
WHEN TO SHIFT GEARS
SOUNDS THAT MAY WARN YOU OF
IMPENDING ENGINE PROBLEMS
THE SCREECHING OF TIRES
NOTE:
SO THAT IS WHY THE WEARING OF A
HEADSET OR EARPHONES WHILE
DRIVING TO LISTEN TO MUSIC IS
ILLEGAL.
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AGE IS ANOTHER PHYSICAL CONDITION
THAT CAN HAVE AN IMPACT ON A
PERSONS DRIVING ABILITIES.
OLDER DRIVERS ARE BETTER AT
DETECTING AND AVOIDING POTENTIAL
HAZARDS THAN YOUNGER DRIVERS.
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HOWEVER THEY ALSO TEND TO HAVE
THE FOLLOWING:
DECREASED REACTION TIME
WEAKER EYESIGHT
POORER HEARING
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YOUNGER DRIVERS HAVE:
BETTER EYESIGHT
BETTER HEARING
FASTER REACTION TIME
BUT LACK THE ONE THING THAT
OLDER DRIVERS HAVE:
EXPERIENCE !
WHEN TO DRIVE
OR NOT TO DRIVE
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AVOID DRIVING WHEN YOU ARE SICK.
YOUR REACTION TIME IS AFFECTED
WHEN YOU ARE SICK.
THE MEDICATIONS YOU TAKE ALSO
AFFECT YOUR ABILITY TO DRIVE.
MOST MEDICATIONS HAVE LISTED ON
THE WARNING LABEL DO NOT OPERATE
A MOTOR VEHICLE WHILE TAKING THIS
MEDICATION.
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A CHRONIC IS ONE THAT IS ONGOING.
EXAMPLES:
DIABETES
ASTHMA
EPILESPY
GLAUCOMA
CANCER
HEART DISEASE
MOOD DISORDERS
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MANY OF THESE CHRONIC DISEASES
AFFECT DRIVING ABILITY BY
IMPAIRING CERTAIN ASPECTS OF THE
BODY’S NORMAL FUNCTION. HOWEVER,
IT IS STILL QUITE POSSIBLE TO DRIVE
RESPONSIBLY WITH CHRONIC
DISEASES.
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PERSONS WITH PERMANENT PHYSICAL
DISABILITIES THAT LIMIT THEIR USE OF
ARMS, LEGS, OR HANDS CAN DRIVE
VEHICLES ADAPTED WITH SPECIAL
EQUIPMENT SUCH AS:
HAND-OPERATED FOOT PEDALS
STEERING WHEEL “SPINNERS”
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TEMPORARY INJURIES ARE ALSO MAY
IMPAIR ONE’S ABILITY TO DRIVE.
A PHYSICAL INJURY IS A DISTRACTION
BECAUSE OF THE PAIN OR DISCOMFORT
THAT IS GENERALLY ASSOCIATED WITH
AN INJURY.
CERTAIN INJURIES MAY AFFECT YOUR
RANGE OF MOTION IN YOUR ARMS,
LEGS, HEAD, TORSO AND NECK.
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YOUR EMOTIONAL STATE IS VERY
IMPORTANT FACTOR IN YOUR ABILITY
TO DRIVE WELL. GIVING INTO YOUR
EMOTIONS WHILE DRIVING
DIMINISHES YOUR COORDINATION
AND CONCENTRATION.
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a. Distraction from the driving task. Our
thoughts tend towards the cause of the
emotion.
b. Reaction to events around us. If we are
upset, we may tend to react in a more
aggressive manner to others around us.
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The goal of emotional control is to recognize
and understand your mental and physical
limitations and drive within those limits.
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EVERY EMOTION AFFECTS YOUR
ABILITY TO DRIVE. WHEN YOU ARE:
ANGRY (NON-ROAD RAGE)
EXCITED
DEPRESSED
UPSET OVER A PERSONAL ISSUE(S)
ALL OF THESE EMOTIONS CAN TAKE THE
FOCUS OFF THE ROAD AND ONTO YOUR
PROBLEMS
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YOUR EMOTIONAL STATE IS HEIGHTENED
AND IS A VERY POWERFUL CONDITION
WHICH AND CAN AFFECT A DRIVER’S
ABILITY TO PERCEIVE AND RESPOND TO THE
THREATS OF THE ROAD.
WHENEVER A DRIVER IS EXTREMELY ANGRY,
SAD, EXUBERANT, UPSET, ANXIOUS,
DEPRESSED OR FRUSTRATED THAT DRIVER
SHOULD NOT BE BEHIND THE WHEEL
BECAUSE HIS OR HER DECISIONS MAY BE
STRONGLY INFLUENCED BY THEIR
EMOTIONS.
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WHY ARE TEENAGE DRIVERS MORE
AFFECTED BY EMOTIONS THAN OTHER
DRIVERS?
MANY NEW EMOTIONS ARE BEING
EXPERIENCED DURING THEIR
ADOLESCENT YEARS.
EXAMPLE:
LOVE OR AFFECTION
LONELINESS
FEAR
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ANOTHER REASON IS THAT TEENAGER ‘S
ARE HAVING THEIR BRAINS REWIRED FOR
ADULTHOOD.
THIS CAN CAUSE A TEENAGER TO BE PUT
IN A POSITION OF NOT KNOWING WHAT
THEY WANT AND UNABLE TO CONTROL
THEIR EMOTIONS.