february 2007 commercial vehicle drivers hours of service module 1: overview

February 2007

Commercial Vehicle Drivers Hours of Service

Module 1: Overview

Commercial Vehicle Drivers Hours of Service

Module 1 - 2

What if there were no rules limiting how many hours a driver could drive a commercial vehicle?

What would happen to the commercial vehicle driver?

What affect would it have on highway safety?

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Commercial Vehicle Drivers Hours of Service

Module 1 - 3

History and reasons for Hours of Service legislation

How the human body clock affects fatigue How to identify driver fatigue How to avoid sleep debt

What will I learn in this module?

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Commercial Vehicle Drivers Hours of Service

Module 1 - 4

Rules that commercial vehicle drivers follow in Canada

Maximum allowable driving times and minimum required off-duty times

Until recently, rules were not based on sleep and fatigue research

Why do we need Hours of Service legislation?

Commercial Vehicle Drivers Hours of Service

Module 1 - 5

1989 - 1996 $6 million study Driving long hours, day after day, results in

serious fatigue caused by “sleep debt” Fatigue leads to commercial vehicle

collisions

Fatigue and Alertness Study

Commercial Vehicle Drivers Hours of Service

Module 1 - 6

Need adequate sleep to combat fatigue Need to change Hours of Service

regulations to allow opportunities for additional sleep

10 years of consultations to make changes to regulations

What is fatigue?

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Commercial Vehicle Drivers Hours of Service

Module 1 - 7

Caused by work, exertion or stress for long periods of time

People contribute to their fatigue by simply being awake

People become tired and drowsy Increased chance of microsleep

What is fatigue?

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Commercial Vehicle Drivers Hours of Service

Module 1 - 8

Body clock tells body processes when to have peaks & low points

Example:Midnight to dawn, clock tells body to lower

body temperature, slow heart rate, lower blood pressure

Body makes these changes whether we are asleep or awake!

How does the human body clock affect fatigue?

Commercial Vehicle Drivers Hours of Service

Module 1 - 9

Disrupting the clock can lead to a lack of sleep and increase in fatigue

Low points = increase in fatigue-related accidents

How does the human body clock affect fatigue?

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Commercial Vehicle Drivers Hours of Service

Module 1 - 10

Decreased judgment Decreased decision-making ability Diminished memory, reaction time,

concentration Worsened mood

What are the symptoms of fatigue?

Commercial Vehicle Drivers Hours of Service

Module 1 - 11

Only way to combat fatigue is sleep Average person needs 6 - 8 hours of sleep

per day People who do not get sufficient daily

sleep build a “sleep debt” As sleep debt increases, people become

less alert and drowsier

How can I avoid sleep debt?

Commercial Vehicle Drivers Hours of Service

Module 1 - 12

Take 20 – 30 minute naps Sleep for a longer period of time Relax so the you have a deeper sleep

How can I avoid sleep debt?

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Commercial Vehicle Drivers Hours of Service

Module 1 - 13

January 1, 2007 Changes give commercial vehicle drivers

opportunity to obtain adequate sleep Changes are consistent with research on

fatigue, human body clock and sleep debt

Hours of Service Regulations

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