Examkin

Question

Difficulty: HardFatigue and Tiredness

During a journey on a high-speed dual carriageway, you realise your concentration is fading and you are having difficulty maintaining a consistent lane position due to severe drowsiness. Which action should you take to manage this hazard safely and effectively?

  1. A
    Increase your driving speed slightly to complete the remainder of the trip before fatigue worsens.
  2. Leave at the next available exit or service area, consume caffeine, and take a short nap of at least 15 minutes.Answer
  3. C
    Pull over immediately onto the paved verge or nearside lane, switch on hazard warning lights, and walk around the vehicle.
  4. D
    Fixate your vision firmly on the tail lights of the lead vehicle ahead to guide your steering until the drowsy period passes.

Answer

Leave at the next available exit or service area, consume caffeine, and take a short nap of at least 15 minutes.
According to Highway Code Rule 91, the only effective remedy for acute fatigue while driving is to leave the road at a safe location, drink two cups of caffeinated coffee or an energy drink, and take a short nap of around 15 minutes.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Recognise the physiological symptoms of advanced driver fatigue
Identified that wandering thoughts and poor lane keeping indicate an immediate risk of falling asleep at the wheel
Temporary countermeasures like open windows or loud music provide only brief stimulation and do not overcome sleepiness
2
Plan a safe location to leave the high-speed road network
Proceeded safely to an authorised service station or exited the carriageway rather than stopping dangerously on the verge
Highway Code Rule 91 requires drivers experiencing severe drowsiness to stop only in designated safe parking areas
3
Apply the dual-countermeasure strategy of caffeine and sleep
Drank two caffeinated beverages and rested for at least 15 minutes to allow caffeine absorption and restorative sleep
Combining a short sleep with caffeine provides the physiological recovery required before resuming driving

Key Concept

Highway Code protocol for counteracting driver fatigue during high-speed driving
Rate this question

Topics

Fatigue and Tiredness

More questions from this topic