Behind the wheel too long? How to stay healthy and beat fatigue if you drive all day for work
In fact, platform workers typically work about 59 hours per week, according to a 2022 study on nearly 1,000 workers by the National University of Singapore's Institute of Policy Studies.
While there aren't any official statistics on the daily hours, it is not unusual to find, for instance, delivery riders spending 10 to 12 hours on the road.
And with about 70,000 platform workers in the ride-hail and delivery service sectors as of 2023, they make up 3 per cent of Singapore's workforce. That could be a lot of tired drivers and riders out there hustling to make ends meet.
Anyone who has spent a considerable amount of time behind the wheel will know that driver's fatigue is a very real thing.
'Drivers experiencing fatigue may show signs such as frequent yawning and blinking, difficulty keeping their eyes open, and decreased concentration and vigilance,' said Dr Licia Tan, an associate consultant with Sengkang General Hospital's Department of Occupational Medicine.
'Passengers might also notice the driver becoming fidgety, veering off the lane or driving erratically,' she added.
When does driver's fatigue set in? How can you combat it and get home safe? Let's put the gear into drive.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR DRIVER'S FATIGUE TO SET IN?
One to two hours of continuous driving, according to Dr Tan. 'Driving is a cognitively demanding task that relies on sustained attention, quick reflexes and decision making – all of which would decline when a driver is tired.'
Of course, the rate of deterioration depends on many factors, she said, citing 'individual differences in sustained attention, fatigue, sleep sufficiency, psychological state, mental sharpness and environmental conditions'.
And on those especially hot days, the brain drain is even more pronounced. 'Intense weather conditions, such as a high environmental temperature, show a positive association with fatigue symptoms and have been linked to poorer decision making and road traffic accidents,' said Dr Tan.
Now, not many people drive for 18 hours straight (and you shouldn't). But if you do, know that the prolonged wakefulness that impairs your brain function, is comparable to alcohol intoxication.
'Being awake for 18 hours is similar to having a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.05 per cent, and 24 hours equate to 0.10 per cent, which exceeds Singapore's legal limit of 0.08 per cent,' said Dr Tan.
WHAT KINDS OF DRIVING CONDITIONS TEND TO SAP YOUR ABILITY TO FOCUS?
There are two types of fatigue, explained Dr Tan. 'In active fatigue, there is high mental effort required to navigate harsh external conditions such as poor weather, hazardous road conditions and heavy traffic.
'On the other hand,' she continued, 'passive fatigue results when there are prolonged periods where drivers have little to do. This can occur when driving on the expressway on cruise control, for example.
Being awake for 18 hours is similar to having a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.05 per cent, and 24 hours equate to 0.10 per cent, which exceeds Singapore's legal limit of 0.08 per cent.
Both will drain you mentally but in different ways. In active fatigue, a high mental effort is required to maintain attention and that will lead to an eventual decline in vigilance, she said. Meanwhile, 'the monotony of driving may uncover underlying sleepiness and drowsiness with consequent negative effects on performance'.
WHAT ELSE CAN IMPAIR YOUR REACTION AND FOCUS WHILE DRIVING?
You only need to scroll through a couple of road-rage videos online to know that your psychological status such as stress, anxiety and anger, said Dr Tan, can impair your judgement from behind the wheel.
Of course, the classic disruptors include alcohol and using the mobile phone. 'Alcohol is certainly a major contributor to road accidents as it reduces alertness, impairs judgement, impacts motor coordination and slows reaction time,' said Dr Tan.
'Distractions such as using the mobile phone increase the risk of accidents by consuming your visual and mental attention.'
WHAT IMPACT DOES DRIVING HAVE ON HEALTH IN THE LONG RUN?
Despite the high mental load, driving is, after all, a sedentary activity. It 'involves long hours of sitting, irregular meals and breaks, and limited access to physical activity – all of which increase the risks of chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol and obesity', said Dr Tan.
'There is also strong evidence on the contribution of risk factors such as poor ergonomics and prolonged hours in a seated position with the development of musculoskeletal disorders such as lower back pain,' she said.
Whole-body vibration (WVB), experienced by heavy-vehicle drivers, is another concern, said Dr Tan. Some studies have linked repeated or long-term exposure to such vibrations to negative health effects such as nerve damage, spinal degeneration, loss of balance, and vascular damage in the arms and hands.
And that's not even including the job stress and abuse from demanding passengers and customers, said Dr Tan.
SO, WHAT CAN DRIVERS DO?
Dr Tan has four tips for better health:
Maintain a balanced diet and keep to regular meal-times
Pack nutritious snacks like fruits and unsalted nuts for when food access is difficult.
Drink at least two litres of water daily.
Keeping a water bottle filled with cool water in the vehicle will help ensure you are adequately hydrated. Dehydration can lead to fatigue, headaches, and reduced concentration.
Take regular breaks
Got for a five-to-10-minute break every hour, if possible. For example, you can do it after dropping off a passenger or package. Do body stretches, clock some steps or do some light stretches to improve blood circulation.
Driving more than 12 hours increases the risk of fatigue-related errors and long-term cardiovascular harm.
WHAT IF YOU CAN'T STOP AND TAKE A BREAK?
Try simple seated exercises like neck rolls, shoulder shrugs and upper limb stretches while waiting in traffic, suggested Dr Tan.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNA
an hour ago
- CNA
Singapore sees rise in measles cases but risk of large outbreaks is low: CDA
SINGAPORE: Singapore has reported a rise in the number of measles cases this year, with 14 infections as of the week ending Jul 12, compared with 11 cases in the whole of 2024 and eight cases in 2023. Among the 14 cases, five were infected locally. All five are adults - one had been fully vaccinated against measles, while the vaccination status of the other four is unknown, the Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) said on Wednesday (Jul 23). The other nine people contracted measles overseas. "While the number of cases seen this year has increased compared to last year, it is lower compared to the pre-COVID years from 2015 to 2019, when the number of cases ranged from 25 to 93 during the same period," CDA said in response to CNA's queries amid a rise in cases globally. The United States in 2025 recorded its worst measles epidemic in more than 30 years. More than 1,200 cases have been confirmed since the beginning of the year in nearly 40 of the 50 US states, with Texas accounting for over 60 per cent of the outbreak, according to Johns Hopkins University. Canada, which officially eradicated measles in 1998, has registered more than 3,500 cases this year. In Southeast Asia, the Philippines reported more than 2,000 cases as of May 10, while Vietnam recorded more than 81,000 suspected cases as of May, according to UNICEF. LOW RISK OF OUTBREAKS IN SINGAPORE Singapore's CDA noted that the rise in cases globally is due to falling measles vaccination rates in some countries and regions. "Given Singapore's position as a major travel hub and the surge in measles cases globally and regionally, we can continue to expect sporadic cases and small clusters because measles is highly transmissible among non-immune individuals," the agency said. "The risk of large outbreaks in the community is low given Singapore's high vaccination coverage among local residents. Therefore, no additional border health measures will be implemented at this time." Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus spread through droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes or simply breathes. It is a legally notifiable disease in Singapore, meaning all medical practitioners and laboratories are required to notify the Ministry of Health within 24 hours from the time of clinical suspicion or laboratory diagnosis. Singapore also mandates two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine for children starting at 12 months. CDA said vaccination remains the best way to protect against measles, with the vaccine effectiveness rate at about 97 per cent with two doses of the measles vaccine. 'While there may still be cases of vaccine breakthrough among vaccinated persons, this is rare,' it added. The agency advised older children and adults without evidence of measles immunity to get vaccinated, especially if they are planning to travel to countries experiencing outbreaks. "To prevent outbreaks and protect younger children who are yet to be vaccinated, we will continue to ensure that our population has high vaccination coverage, and we recommend the public to keep up to date with their vaccination," said CDA. People infected with measles are advised to self-isolate, wear a mask and avoid social interactions until they are no longer infectious. Travellers who become unwell should wear a mask, seek medical attention promptly and inform their doctor of their travel and any exposure to measles cases, the CDA added.
CNA
2 hours ago
- CNA
Shares in Japanese, South Korean automakers surge on Tokyo trade deal
TOKYO/SEOUL : Shares of Japanese and South Korean automakers surged on Wednesday after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a trade deal with Tokyo that sources said would include reducing a tariff on Japanese auto imports to 15 per cent, a move that stoked optimism about a similar deal for Seoul. Shares of Toyota, the world's top automaker by sales, jumped 13 per cent while rival Honda advanced more than 9 per cent. The lower tariff - from 25 per cent previously - would ease the pain for Japan's most important industry in its most crucial market. South Korean automakers gained on hopes Seoul would clinch a similar deal. Both Hyundai Motor and Kia rose more than 6 per cent. The agreement with Japan, the world's fourth-largest economy and a pivotal U.S. ally in Asia, is by far the most significant among several trade deals struck by the White House ahead of an August 1 deadline when higher levies are due to kick in. While Trump did not give details on the auto portion of the deal in a post on his Truth Social platform, industry and government officials briefed on the agreement said it lowers the tariff to 15 per cent from 25 per cent on autos, which account for more than a quarter of Japan's exports to the U.S. Still, it is unlikely to be all smooth sailing for Asian automakers. So far, tariffs from Canada and Mexico remain in place at 25 per cent. Mexico in particular is a key production hub for Japanese automakers, including Nissan, and also home to a Kia factory. Nissan shares were up almost 9 per cent. News of Japan's trade deal is also likely to pile pressure on Seoul to come up with its own agreement ahead of the August 1 deadline. Seoul is taking a close look at the U.S.-Japan deal, South Korea's industry minister said. South Korea is a major competitor of Japan in areas such as autos and steel. It heads into high-level trade with the United States on Friday. For both Japan and South Korea, the auto industry provides major exports, millions of manufacturing jobs and is a deep source of national pride. Even with tariffs, the U.S. remains by far the most important market for Toyota, Hyundai, Honda, Nissan and others. At Toyota and Hyundai alone, North America accounts for at least 40 per cent of the revenue, filings show. The U.S. is Toyota's biggest market in terms of vehicles. It sold 2.3 million vehicles there in 2024, including its Lexus brand, accounting for more than a fifth of its global total. As a source of revenue, North America was second only to Japan in the last financial year. Meanwhile, Hyundai's North American revenue was the highest in almost a decade last year.
CNA
2 hours ago
- CNA
Tokyo's Nikkei leads Asian rally after Japan-US trade deal
HONG KONG: Tokyo stocks rallied with the yen Wednesday (Jul 23) after Japan and the United States finally hammered out a trade deal to slash Donald Trump's tariffs, including those on the crucial car sector. Investors were also cheered by news that Washington had reached agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines, stoking optimism that other countries will achieve deals to avoid the worst of the US president's levies. Despite a lack of deals being made leading up to Trump's self-imposed Aug 1 cut-off date, equity markets have been on the march in recent weeks on optimism that governments will eventually get over the line. Japan had been one of those yet to sign, despite a string of trips to Washington by trade envoy Ryosei Akazawa, dampening investor sentiment in Tokyo. But Trump said Tuesday that officials had agreed to a "massive" deal that would include a 15 per cent tariff on imports from Japan, down from the previously threatened 25 per cent. The pact also saw the 25 per cent levy on autos - a major export to the United States - slashed to 15 per cent. "We just completed a massive Deal with Japan, perhaps the largest Deal ever made," Trump announced on his Truth Social platform. "Japan will invest, at my direction, $550 Billion Dollars into the United States, which will receive 90 per cent of the Profits." He did not provide further details on the investment plan, but claimed the deal "will create Hundreds of Thousands of Jobs". Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said that he needed to examine the deal before commenting. Akazawa wrote on X: "Mission accomplished." Traders poured back into the market, pushing the Nikkei up more than 3 per cent thanks to soaring automakers. Tokyo and Mitsubishi rocketed around 12 per cent and Nissan jumped more than 9 per cent. The yen strengthened to 146.20 per dollar - compared with close to 148 on Tuesday. The unit had already enjoyed a recent tick-up after Ishiba vowed to remain in office despite a devastating weekend election loss. Trump also hailed an agreement with Manila that will see the toll on Philippine goods lowered by one percentage point to 19 per cent, while tariffs on Indonesia were slashed from 32 per cent to 19 per cent. Shares in Manila and Jakarta rose. The announcements boosted hopes that other deals could be in the pipeline before next Friday's deadline, though talks with the European Union and South Korea remain elusive for now. Still, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said he would meet his Chinese counterparts in Stockholm next week for talks, as a separate mid-August deadline approaches for US levies on Beijing to snap back to steeper levels. Elsewhere in Asia, Hong Kong built on its 2025 surge to hit its highest level since late 2021, while Shanghai, Sydney, Singapore and Taipei were also well up. Seoul was flat and Wellington dipped. The advances came after a broadly positive day on Wall Street where the S&P 500 hit another peak but the Nasdaq snapped a six-day streak of records.
