Fleet guide to driver fatigue management

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Two drivers talking about managing fatigue and improving fleet safety

Managing driver fatigue and fleet safety go hand in hand. Fatigue leads to slower reaction times, impaired judgement and increased accident risks—especially on long-haul, monotonous routes. Looking for key strategies to mitigate driver fatigue? Explore this page for insights on decreasing fatigue-related safety risks, from compliance and scheduling to fleet management tools.

Understanding driver fatigue and safety risks

Driver yawning in the car, showing the risk of fatigue on road safety

Did you know that 40% of sleep-related accidents involve commercial vehicles? As these other statistics from the UK road safety charity Brake show, driver fatigue is a serious issue for fleets:

1 in 8 drivers admit to falling asleep at the wheel
An estimated 10-20% of crashes worldwide may be caused by driver fatigue
Drivers are 20 times more likely to fall asleep at the wheel at 6:00am than at 10:00pm

To know how to mitigate safety risks from driver fatigue, it’s important to understand what causes it. According to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, or ROSPA, some of the most common factors behind fatigue are:

Long hours
Irregular schedules
Inadequate sleep
Monotonous routes

It’s also worth considering how age and gender may play a role in effective fatigue management. ROSPA notes that 85% of fatigue-related accidents are caused by men, with more than 1/3 of those men being under the age of 30. Along these same lines, researchers at Loughborough University have found that younger male drivers lacking sleep pose a higher safety risk than older males.

Compliance with drivers’ hours and tachograph rules

Driver using a smart tachograph to comply with new rules and ensure safety

From now through July 2026, new rules for smart tachographs come into effect. These rules require your fleet to install enhanced tachographs, or version 2 devices, enabling authorities to check tachograph data remotely and reducing the number of stops for readings. The rules also help ensure that drivers get enough rest and stay safe (which in turn helps your fleet business avoid fines).

Drivers’ hours rules and required rest breaks

HGV drivers must take a 45-minute break after 4.5 hours of driving. Complying with the rules on drivers’ hours ensures safety for your drivers, all road users and your fleet’s business reputation. Here’s an overview of the maximum number of hours your drivers can work behind the wheel:

1 day: They may drive 9 hours a day and up to 10 hours twice a week
1 week: They are permitted to drive up to 56 hours in any given week
2 weeks: In a two-week period, they can drive a maximum of 90 hours

It’s essential that you and your drivers schedule in regular rest breaks to prevent fatigue.

Digital tachographs and fleet compliance

Digital tachographs record vital data such as driving time, speed and distance. These devices are therefore key to staying on top of remaining driving times.

From now through July 2026, new rules require fleets to install enhanced tachographs, or version 2 devices. Smart tachograph version 2 enables authorities to check tachograph data remotely, reducing the number of stops for readings.

How to support driver rest and well-being

Driver taking a break, importance of supporting rest for road safety

Driver well-being is often treated as a secondary concern. But as any of the statistics highlighted above show, driver well-being is crucial to fleet safety and should therefore be prioritised more. Here are a few simple ways your fleet can contribute to driver rest and well-being.

Include topics on well-being and rest in safety training programs

Provide drivers with practical tips for staying alert behind the wheel. Managing tiredness can be as simple as avoiding heavy meals during breaks, taking short naps on long-haul trips and getting a full night’s sleep before driving. You could also refer to rule 91 in the government’s Highway Code, which discusses fatigue and fitness to drive.

Encourage drivers to eat healthily and stay hydrated

It’s not always possible for professional drivers to eat a healthy sit-down meal three times per day. But you can encourage them to take meal breaks outside their cabs and to choose snack options that help sustain energy—think apples, walnuts, whole grain crackers and cheese. It’s also a no-brainer to stay hydrated: Studies show that a mildly dehydrated driver will make twice as many mistakes.

Optimise your routes and create realistic driver schedules

Time away from family is an aspect of high driver turnover. Contribute to driver satisfaction and restfulness by creating schedules that enable them to go home regularly. Efficient order scheduling means you can get more jobs done—without overworking your drivers. With that said, life on the road can be unpredictable. Embrace flexibility and have a backup plan in mind, so you and your drivers can tackle the unexpected with ease.

Leveraging technology to manage driver fatigue

Driver using in-vehicle technology to manage fatigue

Advanced telematics and in-vehicle technologies can be a big help in managing driver fatigue. We highly recommend the following solutions.

Professional navigation: Keep your drivers on the fastest, safest routes so they can arrive on time and without stress
Tachograph software: Comply with drivers’ hours rules and automate your downloads to maximise productivity
Video telematics: Get the full picture on road incidents and detect potential driver fatigue with AI-enabled dashcams
Driver coaching tools: Boost safety by providing drivers with in-cab feedback, enabling them to adjust their driving in real time

Explore a comprehensive range of fleet safety and compliance solutions.