Driving is a complex and demanding skill. Hazardous driving conditions,

fatigue and distractions can all contribute to accidents on the road.

Would you know how to react if the car you were driving experienced a

sudden loss of grip? Irrespective of whether you are new to driving, or

are an experienced driver, fatigue and distractions are major causes of

crashes that can be avoided. See our 10 top tips to combat fatigue or

distractions when driving:

1. DO NOT FIXATE ON NON-DRIVING RELATED OBJECTS:
   When driving, keep your mind engaged with driving-related information and try to avoid focusing on external objects such as billboards or buildings or internal objects such as a mobile phone or paperwork. Remember that all distractions can be dangerous. Paying attention to driving-related information will help you determine when and where there are vehicles around you and will also enable you to react more quickly to any unforeseen event.
2. AVOID SMOKING WHILE DRIVING
   Smoking while driving can be very distracting, as it requires you to remove one or both hands from the steering wheel to light a cigarette and to hold it for an extended period of time. Several studies have found that smoking while driving increases the risk of being involved in a crash.
3. TURN OFF YOUR mobile PHONE WHILE DRIVING
   Avoid using your mobile phone while driving. If you must use your mobile phone, try to find a safe place to stop or pull off the road, and keep your conversations short. The risk of a crash when using a mobile phone is four times higher than the risk of a crash when a mobile phone is not being used.
4. MINIMIZE EATING AND DRINKING WHILE DRIVING
   Make sure to eat before getting behind the wheel or leave time to pull over and eat safely. Eating while driving may not only be messy, but dangerous, as it creates a physical and visual distraction for drivers. It usually requires drivers to remove one or both hands from the steering wheel while juggling food or beverage with the other.
5. GET ENOUGH SLEEP BEFORE GETTING BEHIND THE WHEEL
   Be sure to get an adequate amount of sleep each night. If possible, do not drive while your body is naturally drowsy, between the hours of 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Driver drowsiness may impair a driver's response time to potential hazards, increasing the chances of being in a crash. If you do become drowsy while driving, be sure to choose a safe place to pull over and rest.
6. MAINTAIN A HEALTHY DIET
   Skipping meals or eating at irregular times may lead to fatigue and/or food cravings. Also, going to bed with an empty stomach or immediately after a heavy meal can interfere with sleep. A light snack before bed may help you achieve more restful sleep. Remember that if you are not well-rested, induced fatigue may cause slow reaction time, reduced attention, memory lapses, lack of awareness, mood changes, and reduced judgment ability.
7. TAKE A NAP
   If possible, you should take a nap when feeling drowsy or less alert. Naps should last a minimum of 10 minutes, but ideally a nap should last up to 45 minutes. Allow at least 15 minutes after waking to fully recover before starting to drive.
8. AVOID MEDICATION THAT MAY INDUCE DROWSINESS
   Avoid medications that may make you drowsy if you plan to get behind the wheel. Most drowsiness-inducing medications include a warning label indicating that you should not operate vehicles or machinery during use. Some of the most common medicines that may make you drowsy are: tranquilizers, sleeping pills, allergy medicines and cold medicines.
9. RECOGNIZE THE SIGNALS AND DANGERS OF DROWSINESS
   Pay attention: Indicators of drowsiness include: frequent yawning, heavy eyes, and blurred vision.
10. DO NOT RELY ON "ALERTNESS TRICKS" TO KEEP YOU AWAKE
    Behaviours such as smoking, turning up the radio, drinking coffee, opening the window, and other "alertness tricks" are not real cures for drowsiness and may give you a false sense of security.