Fatigue can impair cognition, reaction times and memory, which is why it is so dangerous for drivers, especially truckers. Below are some tips that truck operators in West Virginia can take into account. These methods could help address fatigue on the road or prevent it altogether.

First, there is the question of whether one gets sufficient sleep. If truckers do and still constantly feel tired, they may have a disorder like sleep apnea. The quality of their sleep might also be affected by diet. Going to bed with an empty or overly full stomach, for example, is not good. One obvious thing they can avoid is the use of drowsiness-inducing medications like cold and allergy medicines.

Truckers should be aware of typical drowsiness symptoms, such as drooping eyelids and frequent yawning. If they feel they cannot continue in the sleepy state they’re in, it would be best to pull over for a 10- to 45-minute nap. Naps that are taken to prevent fatigue are more restorative.

Truckers may become more alert for an instant if they roll down their windows or play loud music, but these tricks cannot be substituted for sleep. While caffeine may help for a while, those who already get a regular intake of it will not benefit as much.

Drowsy driving often goes hand in hand with logbook violations as truckers will exceed the hours-of-service limitations to meet deadlines. Logbooks, in-cab camera footage and other evidence could be used to prove that someone was drowsy at the time of a crash. This is important for someone who has been injured by a negligent trucker. A lawyer could use such evidence in a personal injury claim.