Fatigue — Kansas Permit Test

Fatigue impairs a Kansas driver's vision and judgment just as alcohol and drugs do, and causes errors related to speed and distance.

Being tired hits the same parts of driving that drink does. Nobody thinks of themselves as impaired for being tired.

Just like alcohol and drugs, it impairs your vision and judgment. Fatigue causes errors related to speed and distance

Most adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep to maintain proper alertness during the day before a Kansas trip.

Sleep is the only thing that actually fixes tiredness. Everything else just hides it for a while.

Get adequate sleep—most adults need 7 to 9 hours to maintain proper alertness during the day

Kansas advises scheduling breaks about every 100 miles or 2 hours during long trips.

The break comes before you feel you need it. Waiting until you are struggling is already too late.

Schedule proper breaks—about every 100 miles or 2 hours during long trips

To prevent a fatigue-related crash a Kansas driver can find a safe parking area to take a 15 to 20-minute nap.

A short nap does more than another hour of pushing on. It is short enough that you will not wake up groggy.

Take a nap—find a safe parking area to take a 15 to 20-minute nap.

Kansas advises trying not to drive late at night between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m.

The body wants to sleep in those hours whatever you tell it. The roads are also emptiest, so nothing keeps you alert.

Driving at night – Try not to drive late at night between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m.

Caffeine equivalent to 2 cups of coffee can increase alertness for several hours, but it wears off and a Kansas driver should not rely on it to prevent fatigue.

Coffee borrows alertness rather than restoring it. When it wears off you are as tired as before, and further from home.

Avoid drinking too much caffeine and keep in mind that it will wear off. Do not rely on caffeine to prevent fatigue.

The best way to prevent fatigue while driving in Kansas is sleep.

Every other trick just delays it. Sleep is the one thing that puts the tiredness back to zero.

The best way to prevent fatigue is sleep.

Warning signs of fatigue in Kansas include having to turn up the radio or roll down the window to wake yourself up, having trouble keeping your eyes open, or drifting from your lane.

Reaching for the window is a signal, not a solution. By then the body has already started shutting down.

Watch for the warning signs of fatigue, such as having to turn up the radio or roll down the window to wake yourself up, having trouble keeping your eyes open or drifting from your lane.

What does Kansas say fatigue does to a driver?

Impairs vision and judgment, just as alcohol and drugs do. Being tired hits the same parts of driving that drink does. Nobody thinks of themselves as impaired for being tired. Kansas Driving Handbook, p.20: “Just like alcohol and drugs, it impairs your vision and judgment. Fatigue causes errors related to speed and distance”