Tasmanian Heavy Vehicle Driver's Handbook - Transport

Driver management3Driving a heavy vehicle can be demanding. It is important to abide by the driverfatigue laws and regulations and generally take care of your health, in theinterest of public safety and your own wellbeing.A heavy vehicle driver spends a lot of time on the road. The work isdemanding and you are responsible for heavy loads, dangerous goods andpassengers. It is very important that you are in good health for your ownsafety and that of the public.• Health of professional driversThe most important ways to stay healthy and keep on top of your job are -• get enough sleep• eat a well-balanced diet• exercise regularly• try to relieve stressEnough sleepThe need for sleep varies among individuals with some people needingmore sleep than others. Make sure that you get most of your sleep at nighttime – it is better than daytime sleep. Regular night sleep of about seven toeight hours is one of the best ways to manage driver fatigue.See the following pages in this section on managing driver fatigue and forinformation on the legal minimum work and rest time.Diet and exerciseTo stay fit and healthy for your job your weight needs to be within anacceptable range. Eating the right foods and taking regular exercise isthe only answer. Ask your GP for advice or check these websites forinformation: www.ntc.gov.au and www.austroads.com.au.Try to relieve stressStress affects your driving. If you are having problems at home or at work,you are up to five times more likely to be involved in a crash. Your GP canadvise you on where to go for help.Tasmanian Heavy Vehicle Handbook 23