EUGENE HERBERT
The festive season in Nigeria means long-distance travel, late-night parties, church programmes, family visits and, sadly, more fatigue-related crashes. Long journeys on highways like Lagos–Ibadan, Abuja–Kaduna, Benin–Ore or Enugu–Onitsha become even riskier when drivers push themselves beyond their limits.
Driver fatigue doesn’t hit you at once. It creeps in gradually, with your body sending warnings that become louder and more dangerous. Understanding these stages can save your life and the lives of your passengers.
Stage One
Subtle Signs You May Ignore. The earliest warnings are easy to brush aside:
- Your blinks get slower and heavier.
- Your vision becomes slightly blurry—road signs or brake lights don’t look as sharp.
- You start yawning repeatedly, even if you think you’re “fine.”
- Your mind begins to drift.
If you suddenly realise you cannot account for the last few kilometres you just drove on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway or any other route, that’s a red flag. Pull over.
Stage Two
Your Body Starts Failing. Fatigue now becomes physical:
- Your head nods and snaps back up, classic “dozing at the wheel.”
- Your speed becomes inconsistent; your foot relaxes on the accelerator without you noticing.
- Your vehicle begins drifting within or out of your lane.
- Steering feels less sharp, like you’re reacting a second too late.
Some drivers at this stage say it feels like they are watching themselves drive rather than actively controlling the car. That feeling is dangerous.
Stage Three: Micro-Sleeps ‘The Silent Killer
This is the deadliest stage because you may not even know it has happened.
A micro-sleep is a brief shutdown of the brain lasting a few seconds:
Your eyes may close completely.
Or they may stay open, staring blankly.
You miss road signs, missed exits, or fail to notice slowing traffic ahead.
In a three-second micro-sleep at 100 km/h, you travel roughly the length of an entire football pitch completely unconscious.
Many fatal crashes on Nigerian highways happen at this stage.
Stage Four
Behaviour Changes and Bad Decisions. Fatigue affects your judgement:
- You become edgy, restless or unusually irritable.
- You forget landmarks and off-ramps.
- Your sense of distance and speed becomes unreliable.
- These mental lapses are the final warning before disaster.
If You Notice Any Sign — STOP
- Don’t “manage it.” Don’t tell yourself “I’m almost there.”
- Don’t wait to reach Lokoja, Ore, Asaba, or Sagamu before resting.
- Pull over immediately at a safe spot:
- Stretch your legs
- Splash water on your face
- Take a short nap
- Switch drivers if possible
- Your destination will still be there.
Your life, and the lives you carry, may not.
Eugene Herbert is the CEO of South Africa-based MasterDrive
