Before you set out on your day’s runs ask yourself these questions.
Am I well rested? Am I fit and well enough to ride or drive? If you’re in any doubt, think twice about taking on deliveries; your life may well depend on it.
You are ultimately responsible for your own personal safety and when you’re riding and driving, you have a responsibility to others too. So, please, never drive when you’re tired or when you think you may have alcohol in your system.
Tiredness
Tired drivers have slower reaction times and suffer from reduced attention, awareness, and ability to control their vehicles. Research suggests driving tired can be as dangerous as drink-driving, so it’s very important you are able to recognise the signs of fatigue and to never drive when you’re tired.
The three main causes of driver fatigue are:
- Lack of quality sleep – this is very important to ensure you’re alert
- Time of day – driving when you would usually be sleeping, or in the afternoon period (when our ‘body clock’ makes us feel tired)
- Length of drive – accepting too many delivery runs at a time or over-working will likely increase fatigue
Warning signs that you’re tired
Listening to the radio, drinking coffee and opening the windows will not stop you from being tired over longer periods of time. So, if you do feel tired, we recommend you stop delivering, go home and rest.
Pull over and stop when it is safe to do so, as soon as you experience any of these warning signs:
- Yawning
- Difficulty concentrating
- Sore eyes
- Slow reaction time
- Daydreaming
- Oversteering
To help prevent extreme tiredness while delivering, we recommend the following:
Get a good night’s sleep
We recommend at least seven to eight hours of uninterrupted sleep before your delivery run.
Be careful when driving at night
The chances of an incident are much higher late at night and early in the morning, so be extra cautious at these times and make sure you don’t overload yourself with deliveries.
Take regular breaks
If you can, take a 15 minute break every two hours or so. Get out of the car, or off your bike, get some fresh air and even some exercise.
Eat well balanced meals
Certain foods, such as those high in fat, can make you feel drowsy. Try eating fresh food and snacks, and eat at your usual times to sync with your body clock.
Prescribed medications
From time to time, you may need to take medication. Some of these medications can negatively affect your ability to drive or perform deliveries.
If you are required to take medication, you must ensure the medication does not cause drowsiness or have any other effect on your driving or riding ability. If it is going to have a negative effect on your ability to ride, do not commence a delivery run.
If you are unsure as to whether a medication could have this effect, you should consult your doctor or your pharmacist for further information.
Alcohol and drugs
- It is illegal in the UK to drive a motor vehicle under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol
- Cycling in any way that is considered furious, dangerous, careless or inconsiderate is also an offence. Drugs or alcohol are likely to impair your judgement and put you and others in danger
- Remember that even if you were drinking the night before, it’s possible you are still under the influence of alcohol
- There is no reliable way to test if you are safe to drive after drinking. The safest thing to do is not drive at all after drinking.
