Driver Fatigue & Working Time
Driver fatigue is a serious road safety risk. Tired driving reduces concentration, slows reactions, affects judgement, and increases the likelihood of collisions.
All BHA drivers must ensure they are fit, alert, and capable of driving safely before starting work and throughout the working day. No job, deadline, or route pressure takes priority over safe driving.
Driver Responsibility
- Ensure you are fit to drive before starting work
- Take proper breaks during the day
- Monitor your own concentration and alertness
- Stop driving if fatigue affects safe vehicle control
- Report fatigue-related concerns where required
Drivers are responsible for recognising when they are no longer safe to continue.
What Causes Driver Fatigue?
Fatigue can be caused by more than just lack of sleep. It often builds gradually and may not always be obvious until driving performance is already affected.
- Insufficient sleep before starting work
- Long working hours
- Early starts or late finishes
- Long-distance motorway driving
- Monotonous routes with limited stimulation
- Poor health, illness, or dehydration
- Medication that causes drowsiness or reduced alertness
Warning Signs of Fatigue
Drivers must recognise early warning signs and act before fatigue becomes dangerous.
- Frequent yawning
- Heavy eyes or difficulty focusing
- Missing signs, turnings, or exits
- Drifting within lane
- Reduced concentration or wandering thoughts
- Delayed reactions to hazards or traffic changes
- Difficulty remembering the last few miles driven
If any of these signs are present, the driver must take immediate action.
Safe Working Practices
- Take regular breaks before fatigue builds up
- Avoid driving continuously for long periods without stopping
- Plan the route with suitable rest opportunities
- Stay hydrated during the working day
- Allow enough time for the job without rushing
Caffeine, energy drinks, or opening windows are not a substitute for proper rest.
Breaks & Recovery
A proper break means stepping away from active driving and allowing concentration to recover.
- Take breaks at sensible intervals during the day
- Use breaks to rest, stretch, and reset focus
- Longer journeys require more deliberate fatigue planning
A short stop without real recovery may not be enough if fatigue is already affecting the driver.
Driving While Tired
Drivers must not continue driving if they are too tired to maintain full control and concentration.
- Do not continue just to finish the route
- Do not ignore warning signs
- Do not assume tiredness will pass without stopping
Driving while fatigued is a serious safety breach.
What To Do If Fatigue Is Affecting You
- Stop the vehicle safely
- Take a proper break
- Assess whether it is safe to continue
- Notify operations if delays are expected
If safe alertness cannot be restored, the journey must not continue.
Planning the Working Day
Good fatigue control begins before the journey starts.
- Plan realistic routes and timings
- Build rest breaks into the day
- Avoid accepting workloads that cannot be done safely
- Allow time for traffic, delays, and loading issues
Poor planning creates pressure, and pressure often leads to unsafe decisions.
Health, Sleep & Fitness to Drive
- Drivers must get adequate sleep before shifts
- Drivers must not drive when ill or physically unfit
- Alcohol, drugs, or medication affecting alertness must be taken seriously
- General health problems that affect concentration or endurance must not be ignored
Fitness to drive includes physical condition, mental alertness, and the ability to remain focused for the full journey.
Working Time Awareness
Drivers must remain aware of how long they have been working and how that affects alertness.
- Long days increase fatigue risk
- Multiple drops and urban driving can be mentally exhausting
- Delays can extend the working day beyond what was planned
Drivers must manage the real demands of the day, not just the planned schedule.
Operational Standard
BHA drivers are expected to manage fatigue professionally and prioritise safety over speed, pressure, or convenience.
Compliance & Enforcement
- Driving while fatigued is treated as a serious safety issue
- Failure to manage fatigue may result in suspension from work allocation
- Repeated failures to operate safely may result in removal from the driver network
Safe driving requires honest judgement. Drivers must not present themselves as fit if they are not safe to continue.
Daily Driver Check Integration
By completing the daily driver check, drivers confirm that:
- They are fit to drive
- They are not impaired by fatigue
- They will take appropriate breaks where required
- They will stop and report if fatigue affects safe driving