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DRIVER FATIGUE CAUSES thousands of deaths across Europe each year and kills one in five people on Irish roads, according to the Road Safety Authority.
Although most drivers associate driver fatigue with long journeys, short trips can be equally as treacherous, according to Aveen Bannon, a leading nutritionist working in conjunction with the RSA.
Motorists are also 13 times more likely to have a tiredness-related collision in the early morning than in the mid-morning or afternoon, with most fatigue-related injuries occurring between 2am – 6 am and 3pm – 5 pm.
If you feel tired while driving:
The RSA says that one in ten drivers admits to falling asleep at the wheel, and tiredness-related collisions are 3 times more likely to result in death or serious injury. Bannon advises drivers who begin to feel tired at the wheel to do the following:
1. Find a safe place to pull over
2. Drink one or two strong cups of coffee
3. Take a nap for 15 – 20 minutes immediately afterwards
Bannon advises drivers to take a nap straight after drinking coffee as it takes caffeine up to 20 minutes to take effect. “Long journeys can be tiring and there are two factors to look at; the first is fueling the body and the second is chewing…which has been shown to help increase alertness,” she said.
“Surprisingly, a lot of people forget they need to fuel themselves as well as their cars for a long trip. Our bodies need to be fuelled every 3-4 hours to keep our energy levels up so always make sure you eat a good balanced meal before embarking on a journey,” she added.
Bannon also reminded motorists to keep themselves well-hydrated during journeys, by either drinking water or energy drinks.
Driver-fatigue should not be dismissed
Those most at risk of fighting sleep at the wheel include long- distance lorry drivers, night or shift workers, trades-people, motorists driving home at night and males, according to the RSA.
The effect of driver-fatigue should not be underestimated, says Noel Brett, Chief Executive, Road Safety Authority. “Scientific studies show that if a driver persists in fighting sleep while driving, the impairment level is the same as driving while over the drink drive limit,” he said.
“If you can, drink two cups of coffee or a caffeine drink but – most importantly – take a 15 to 20 minute nap. Following the nap stretch your legs and get some fresh air. By following this advice you should be able to drive for another hour or more,” he said.
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Minister keep the cap on senior bankers pay no turning back !
Only a politican could see mortgaging a nations future for a dysfunctional banking system as an achievement.
another delusional gobshite. ff/fg spot the difference.
No difference Fergus. Fought tooth and nail against the crooked FF policies – get into office and continues doing it. Nooner’s a failed politician from a decade ago – and an investor in German bonds. Fact!
If he Is a "failed politician" please explain how he is one of the nation’s highest pole-toppers? And the most powerful Minister in our Government?
He has led one of the greatest political comebacks we have ever seen.
A Musgrave,
You wouldn’t be a Fine Gaeler by any chance?
Out and out gobshite
Says your man.
how many times can Noonan use the phrases “magic bullet” & “silver bullet” and/ or “magic solution”
Seriously- get some new vocab!
How did he get to Washington? 1st class I guess.
I would love to know.
FG’s excuse of taking over the remains of the fail FF government of the last 14 years is now wearing thin. They promised swift sharp change during the election and have failed to deliver. FG completely devoid of new ideas. What have they really done since they took over? The few quid we got off the loans was always coming it wasn’t from the hard work and effort from FG. Why can’t Noonan just come out and say if this dude from the AIB proved that he can turn that disaster around pay back what it owes and turn a profit again then yeah give him above the 500k till then Kenny Noonan and co get off your fat arses and live up to your election promises or just F##k off and let someone else try.
Dub Don in believing election promises shocker?
What “someone else”?
FF sank us in the first place.
Labour’s already in government and seems to have forgotten the “Labour” part of their name.
SF? Please. Raising €21 million up North isn’t a resume for running a country’s economy.
SWP? Independents?
Who else is there?
Or do you feel like giving up the career you’ve worked for to become the lowest member of the pecking order so that you can “change the system from within” in about 20 years?
Forgot irony tag
Learn to repeat them, I presume.
"learn from our banking mistakes" ?
Our own banks haven’t, AIB are looking to raise Chief Executive’s salary!
Oh the IRONY!
Jaysus. There’s a misleading headline. I thought he was going to be hanging his head in shame. Instead he’s holding us up as a shining star. JC. What a gobshite.
I would love to go through his and his families bank statements for the last 20 years. Including foreign banks as like all politicians they seem to live way beyond their means. He might be less inclined to blow his own trumpet so often.
They (government) HAVE to praise themselves cos the ordinary people of Ireland have NOTHING TO PRAISE THEM ABOUT
greece about to default ,these comments from noonan mean nothing because we will be next for default ,he is talking about austerity but fails to mention our debt has increased substanially.this govt are doing nothing to think or act outside the box,simply obeying their masters in europe which means there is no need for 50% of them ,they need to get off the public gravy train and reduce the costs No more freeloaders please!
Blah blah blah
It is standard practice to "talk up" the country when abroad.
What else would he do?
Talk us down perhaps?
Potential investors are listening.
Doctor Death recommends another lethal cocktail.
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