Driver condition refers to your physical, mental and emotional fitness to drive. It is the most important of the six conditions, because a driver in top physical, mental and emotional shape can adjust to all the other conditions and to the errors of other drivers as well. Distracted driving, fatigue, stress and illness can all affect the condition of a driver, making them unfit to drive.

Distracted driving

The greatest number of traffic collisions are caused by drivers not paying attention. Any driver is a potential fatal hazard. Careful observation and visual scanning of the entire traffic scene ahead, behind and to either side must be part of your driving. Your eyes look at count less things you do not really see at all. Your mind concentrates on only a few details and excludes others. You see only the things your mind selects.

Normally, your eyes shift automatically about every two seconds as you drive - provided your attention is on the road. When you are preoccupied, however, this automatic eye shift does not occur. Only by conscious practice to force your eyes to move every two seconds, until it becomes a habit, can you avoid the serious danger of a blank stare in traffic when your mind is not on your driving. Most collisions occur near home and on familiar roads or highways that the driver fails to concen trate on seeing. A moment’s lack of attention behind the wheel - whether from poor scanning habits or common dis tractions such as cellphones, worry, daydreaming, impatience, tuning the radio, talking to a passenger or casually gazing at billboards and storefronts - can bring about a collision and possibly death.

Fatigue

Driving while fatigued can make you a road hazard. Drowsy driving is as dangerous as impaired driving because it slows a driver’s reaction time, decreases awareness and can impair judgment. Lack of sleep is the most common cause of drowsy driving. Other contributing factors include driving alone, driving long distances without rest breaks and driving through the night, or at times when the driver normally sleeps. Taking medication that increases sleepiness or drinking alcohol also contributes to driver fatigue.

It is important that you learn to recognize when any or all these conditions are adversely affecting your driving behaviour or ability. This means not driving until after the condition has improved.

Warning signs of driver fatigue

• yawning
• inability to keep eyes focused and head up
• having wandering, disconnected thoughts
• driving the past few kilometres without remembering them
• difficulty maintaining speed
• drifting between lanes, tailgating or missing traffic signs
• noticing a vehicle that seemed to appear out of nowhere

Most fatigue-related collisions happen between 1 - 4 p.m. and early in the morning between 2 - 6 a.m. Typically, fatigue-related collisions occur at higher speeds and can result in drivers running off the road or vehicles colliding head-on with other vehicles or stationary objects.

In Canada, a driver can drive a commercial vehicle under the National Safety Code up to 13 hours a day, but it is recommended the driver not drive more than two hours without stopping for a rest.

Turning up the radio, opening a window, drinking coffee, chewing gum or eating will help reduce driver fatigue temporarily but the following actions will help prevent driver fatigue:

• Don't travel at times when you'd usually be sleeping.
• Get plenty of sleep before a long trip.
• Avoid working all day and then driving all night. Stay overnight rather than driving straight through.
• Take regular breaks - at least every two hours. Stretch or take a walk to get some fresh air.
• Take a mid-afternoon break. Have a 20-40-minute nap.
• Travel with an awake and alert passenger. Having someone to chat with will keep the driver awake and the passenger can also let the driver know if he/she is showing any signs of fatigue.

Stress

You drive not only with your head, hands and feet, but with your personality as well. Don’t drive when you’re so angry or upset that you can't concentrate on driving.

Illness

Being sick can put added stress on you when you are driving. Even a mild cold can cause enough discomfort on a long trip to make you tired and distracted.