Road rules and safety

Fatigue and driving

Driver fatigue is a serious safety risk on Victorian roads. Learn what causes fatigue and how to tell if you’re too tired to drive.

Don't drive when you're tired

Driver fatigue or ‘drowsy driving’ contributes to up to 20 per cent of all road crashes. View TAC information on tired driving.

Driving when tired means it is harder to concentrate on your driving and respond as quickly and safely as you should. In fact, research has shown that driving on less than 5 hours of sleep is equivalent to driving on 0.05 blood alcohol concentration (BAC).

Signs of fatigue and tiredness

Causes of driver fatigue

Not getting enough sleep or a lack of quality sleep.
Being awake for an extended period of time (more than 16 hours).
Driving at times you are normally asleep (overnight).
Overtiredness due to mental or physical exertion.
Having a sleep disorder such as sleep apnoea.

Warning signs of tired driving

These may include:

mind wandering to other things or losing focus
slow or heavy eyes, or blurry vision
constant yawning or head nodding
trouble remembering the last few kilometres of driving, or daydreaming
drifting in the lane or having slow reactions at traffic lights and intersections
trouble maintaining a constant speed while driving.

How to avoid tired driving

Before you drive

Make sure you regularly get enough sleep (most people need 7 to 9 hours a day).
Seek medical advice if you regularly feel sleepy during the day or notice problems with your sleep.
Don’t drink alcohol before your trip, as even a small amount can contribute to fatigue.
Be aware of the effects of medications you’re taking (some may increase drowsiness). Seek medical advice on how your medication schedule might affect your driving.
Don’t start a long trip after a long day’s work or if you’re exhausted.

While you're driving

If you’re falling asleep, stop driving as soon as you can.
Both drivers and passengers should watch out for signs of sleepiness.
If you’re feeling fatigued, pull over and take a short nap or ‘powernap’. Research shows that even a small sleep of 15 to 20 minutes can temporarily lessen the effects of fatigue for up to 1 to 2 hours.
If possible, avoid overnight driving, or driving when you would normally be asleep.

If you're driving long distances

We recommend driving for no more than 8 hours within a 24-hour period.
Plan ahead and map out where you’ll take a break. If you’re travelling in Victoria, check out our rest area map.
Take regular rest breaks every two hours or less (as required) to help reduce the effects of fatigue.
Stop for at least 15 to 30 minutes for each break period, leave the car to stretch and walk around.
Plan to take turns driving, but only if other drivers are not sleepy or impaired by alcohol or drugs.

Remember that once you’re fatigued, the only cure is sleep.

Shift work and fatigue

Shift workers (anyone who works outside of ordinary business hours) are more likely to be involved in a fatigue-related crash or commit a traffic violation, particularly when travelling home from a night shift.

They’re at greater risk because shift work goes against a person’s natural sleep and awake times.

It’s the responsibility of employers and employees to protect themselves, their colleagues and other road users. Employers may have a duty of care to protect employees who suffer from fatigue. Employees may have occupational health and safety obligations to advise their employer of their fatigue.