10 Nov 4 Simple Tips for Driver Wellness
Driver wellness has become a major issue for the transportation industry.
According to the American Sleep Foundation, about 1/2 of U.S. adult drivers openly admitted to getting behind the wheel of the vehicle while feeling drowsy. “About 20% admit to falling asleep behind the wheel at some point in the past year – with more than 40% admitting this has happened at least once in their driving careers.”
The Importance of Driver Wellness
Health is vital to all of us. And, getting regular sleep is an extremely important way to stay healthy.
With November 6-13 being Drowsy Driving Prevention Week, it is a fitting time to discuss driver wellness and why it is important not only on the job but to everyday life. For employees who drive, wellness is an important issue for several reasons.
- Being healthy helps a person function better both on & off the job by feeling better, having more energy and, therefore, working better and enjoying leisure time more.
- A healthy employee who qualifies for a driver job can stay on the job earning a paycheck.
- A well person may live a more comfortable, longer, and happier life.
- A healthy employee is far more likely to have a safe driving record, lower healthcare costs, and fewer days away from work.
Keeping drivers healthy is so important that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requires that all new CMV (Commercial Motor Vehicle) drivers learn about driver wellness. Workplaces with strong off-the-job safety and health programs can include important information on getting sufficient sleep and ceasing from driving drowsy.
4 Simple Tips for Driver Wellness
1. Include Exercise in Your Daily Routine
Whether it’s bending to get grocery’s from your back seat, turning your head to check blind spots, or flexing your foot to reach your brake pedal, driving is a full-body activity. According to recent research by The Hartford Center for Mature Market Excellence and MIT AgeLab, four areas of exercise can improve the physical driving-related movements many of us find challenging as we age: flexibility, strength, range of motion, and coordination.
2. Train Your Brain
Brain training can also make you a safer, smarter driver. Incorporating brain training exercises into your daily routine can help you maintain the following critical driving skills: attention and reaction time, concentration, problem-solving skills, and memory.
3. Maintain Regular Sleep Routine
Drowsy driving is distracted driving. Maintaining a regular sleep routine will help you fight fatigue. Be sure to get the recommended 7.5 to 8 hours of sleep every night.
4. Take Care of Your Eyes
If your vision is impaired, so is your ability to drive safely. When it comes to driving, good vision doesn’t just mean you can read the stop signs or differentiate green lights from red lights. So next time you’re at your regularly scheduled eye exam, ask your provider if you have any problems that might impact your driving and what can be done to improve your vision and overall roadway safety.
It is time to get moving and work with your team to create a wellness program that will help control the health and medical costs of drivers.
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