There is no hiding the fact that if you do not get enough sleep, you will feel absolutely terrible. In addition to being slow and sluggish, you are utterly off the ball. Taking into consideration how vitally crucial awareness is to a courier driver, as well as to every other person who uses the road, it is quite concerning that understanding of this concept is still lacking. The good news is that scientific research continues to advance, and certain recent discoveries have the potential to significantly improve the safety of driving. There should be no question that sleep deprivation creates significant dangers to anyone who utilize the roads, given the connection between fatigue and the driving industry. Based on studies conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, it has been shown that a just one to two hours less sleep in a span of twenty-four hours may increase the likelihood of being involved in an accident. As is the case with all matters pertaining to road safety, the risks are not only to you but also to others who are in your immediate vicinity. It goes without saying that corporations are aware of this, and they have protocols in place to reduce the dangers that courier drivers face. “Vehicle tracking systems enable for the monitoring of driver locations and other data, like how long they’ve been behind the wheel and information of rest breaks,” points out Chris McClellan, who works with Ram Tracking Services. Fleet managers are able to organize shifts based on this information, which helps them to prevent fatigue and make modifications as required. There is also progress being made in the scientific study of sleep, and this research is being conducted in relation to other people who use the road. What it says on the tin is precisely what the University of Surrey’s Sleep Research Centre does: it is a specialized organization that is committed to researching, analyzing, and dealing with sleep. In particular, there is a project that has ramifications for the safety of the roads. A study was conducted at the research center in which 36 volunteers were kept awake for forty hours and observed. The results of the study revealed detectable alterations across hundreds of genes. The specifics are complicated, but in basic words, the study was conducted. Following this, the data was entered into a computer, which then determined a subset of 68 markers that was more manageable. A 92 percent accuracy rate is achieved when detecting sleep loss using the measurement of changes in these. According to Professor Simon Archer, who is affiliated with the study center, they are a “first step” in the research that is being conducted to measure weariness. what this entails for those who utilize a road If we are getting closer to being able to physically assess weariness, what kind of implications does this have for you as a driver of a courier service? Standard blood tests are able to identify the markers that are responsible for recognizing sleep loss, as was described before. The administration of blood tests is still straightforward and risk-free, despite the fact that it may not be quite as easy as blowing into a breathalyzer by the side of the road. Moreover, by concentrating on the 68 indicators that are the most important, it is not necessary to use very complicated computer programs in order to determine whether or not you need a little bit more rest. As a matter of fact, it may be as simple as a roadside examination. If this technology were to be used, it would make it possible for traffic police to assess fatigue with the same ease that they test drunkenness. In addition, if a courier driver or any other person who uses the road exhibited signs of sleep deprivation, they would be prevented from driving, which would make the roads safer for everyone. Beyond this, the advancements in scientific knowledge could also have a good knock-on impact elsewhere. Particularly positive about such possibilities, McClellan pointed out that these tests would also stimulate better awareness of the problem of being in control of a vehicle when under the influence of sleep deprivation. The implementation of testing has the potential to significantly boost the safety of our roads, which is something that can only be a positive thing. This is because fatigue may significantly raise the likelihood of being involved in an accident. publisher’s plate As a correspondent for courier exchange, which is the biggest neutral trading center in the world, Norman Dulwich is employed in the express freight exchange sector. He is responsible for providing same-day courier routes. In order to cover vacant capacity, acquire new customers, and establish long-lasting commercial partnerships, the exchange facilitates the networking of more than 5,400 member organizations from all over the world.