Feeling sleepy at the wheel? Pull over and take a nap

The Abu Dhabi Police have advised motorists not to drive while feeling fatigued and sleepy.

As part of a traffic campaign called ‘Your Safety’, the traffic directorate said the statistics showed that last year in Abu Dhabi, six persons were killed and nine others critically injured in 28 accidents, the majority of which happened because the drivers fell asleep. Colonel Hamad Nasser Al Bloushi, Director of the Department of Peripheral Regions at the Directorate of Traffic and Patrols, stated that being fatigued is one of the key factors that affect a driver’s ability to drive safely.

A driver feels more fatigue during the night hours.

Al Bloushi urged motorists to pull over and stop at a safe place in case of feeling sleepy to take rest and avert serious road mishaps that might befall.

“Driving unaccompanied for a long distance is risky,” warned Al Bloushi, explaining that drivers who spend long hours at the wheel on highways are more vulnerable to feeling exhausted at nights.

Some might fall asleep if they are driving at a time when they usually sleep like night hours or afternoon siesta time.

He advised motorists to pay close attention to driving, watch their way, abide by the speed limits on roads and fasten the seatbelt which could provide invaluable safety in the event of a crash.

news@khaleejtimes.com