Rest after every 4-Hour journey-FRSC

‘Why you should stop on a long road trip’

To reduce fatigue that may result in road accidents, experts and industry stakeholders have explained why it is safe to have several stopovers when embarking on long road trips.

This is because most drivers often wanted to get to their destinations as quickly as possible, but experts have said that driving for long periods without a break can be dangerous.

Driving takes a lot of concentration, skill, and control that is difficult to maintain for hours on end, making frequent stops invaluable to maintaining a high quality of safe, efficient driving.

As a general rule, it’s best to take a break of at least 15 minutes every two hours and to not drive for more than eight hours in a day, to ensure you stay alert and avoid the associated risks of driving for too long without a rest. These risks include falling asleep at the wheel, running out of fuel, and reduced reaction times.

Just a few days ago, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) advised drivers to take a 15-minute break after every four hours of driving to reduce fatigue.

Sikiru Aduloju, Assistant Corps Commander, Apapa Command, advised a sensitisation talk at The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM), Festac Town, Lagos on Sunday.

He said fatigue could lead to accidents because when drivers are tired, they could make poor decisions.

He further advised drivers to avoid other factors that could cause accidents such as discussing sensitive topics while driving, either through phone calls or with a passenger.

“We should stop receiving calls while driving because even good news can trigger reactions that destabilise,” he said.

Mr Aduloju cautioned against what he referred to as Road Accident Immunity Deception Syndrome (RAIDS).

According to him, RAIDS is a situation where drivers know their vehicles are faulty but insist on driving them because they have prayed.

“Boarding a vehicle whose driver is drunk or has taken drugs because you have prayed is dangerous,” he said.

He urged the public to drive with caution, particularly in the “ember” months, which he said was a period with lots of activities and movements.

Mr Aduloju reiterated the need for drivers to consider others while driving.

“Good defensive drivers consider the actions and inactions of other drivers.

“Please don’t Overspeed, consider the distance and not the time,” he said.

Although it sounds like a major delay to your journey, regular, short breaks are only likely to add an hour tops to your trip, and if you schedule them before you set off, it shouldn’t be a hindrance at all.