Besides feeling uncomfortable during the journey, fatigued drivers cannot be trusted. As much as you are driving to work or to enjoy yourself, the longer you will be behind the wheel, the less attentive you will be. Driver fatigue management is necessary in this case to ensure alertness, safety, and responsible driving.

The simplest of all recommendations? Do not forget to have frequent breaks. Before your eyes begin to age. Rest, stretch and have a breath of fresh air. Incredibly, a 10-minute break would make you feel refreshed. You could not get far without having a drink during a marathon run. Long distance driving is not an exception. Have frequent breaks to prevent working on empty stomachs.

Sleep is another aspect that is not given much consideration. Even though it might be tempting to work hard to meet a deadline, losing a couple of hours of sleep to be on the safe side never pays off. Sleep deprivation impairs memory, judgment and reaction speeds. You may be able to make do in the short-term, until you run out of juice, just as you do when you attempt to use a low battery.

Have the consideration of your environment. Ensure that you drive in a comfortable place. Adjust the seat, the ventilation and the mirrors before you start the engine. Simply changing the posture will help greatly in reducing fatigue. You can imagine it as reorganizing your table, in case you are not comfortable you will lose concentration and your energy will drain more quickly.

Keep your mind active. It is so easy to fall asleep because of driving hours, particularly during the long and straight roads. You may either play music, listen to a podcast, or talk a little. Do not over-excite yourself with much noise. Just like in balancing on a tightrope, balance can only be made through the right degree of concentration.

It can make you more attentive in the case you drive long distances or have longer shifts. Fatigue can be brought about by dehydration and sluggishness as well. You must not drink coffee, but have a bottle of water by your side. Whereas it may provide you with a short term boost of energy the crash might be more serious than the initial slowness.

When you are getting drowsy and the traffic is slowing down then switch drivers. In case that is not possible, find a safe parking place and have a power nap. Even 1520 minutes of sleep can be a tremendous difference. Same thing with charging your phone; all one has to do is recharge it just enough so that you are back on track.

Technology may also make a major contribution. Driving aids such as lane departure warning and adaptive cruise control are very nice to have to keep you awake. They can make the long drives a little less stressful, and they can give you a little breathing space, but they cannot replace sleep.

Finally, know your limits. You should never risk to lose your health or even the life of a person in the name of a job or deadline. Learn to put your feet up even when you are on the brink of your goal. You and the road will be there to-morrow.

As far as preventing driver fatigue is concerned, it is more important to be proactive and make minor changes that will accumulate over time as opposed to being flawless. The most important pillars to remain alert are rest, water, breaks, and good driving environment. With the right attitude, you will be able to drive longer, safety and more witfully.