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Proper rest before long trips prevents accidents

  • Published
  • By Safe T. Guru
  • 43rd Airlift Wing Safety Office
POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  There he was ... 2nd Lt. Brite -- brand new to the military and excited to finally be heading out west for his first assignment. Like all good drivers, Lieutenant Brite took the utmost care in planning his 3,000-mile journey across America. He spaced out his stops to spend time with family and a few long-lost friends along the way. He checked out his vehicle to ensure it was up for the long, hot trip, changed the oil, filled all the fluids, checked the tire pressures and cleaned the windows. Things were going great. He planned to make a full day of tying up loose ends, saying goodbye to friends, playing a little softball, having a nice dinner and calling it an early evening so he could get up the next morning and hit the road. As usual, even the best-laid plans seldom survive contact with the enemy of fatigue. 

Lieutenant Brite went to bed at 9:30 p.m. and tried desperately to sleep, but the excitement kept him tossing and turning for the next three hours. He was wide-awake with no hopes of getting to sleep that night. He might as well get up and get going. After all, it was now after midnight and he was "officially" on leave. Lieutenant Brite started back on the road at 1 a.m. after a long day of running around town. He made it to his parents' house at 4 a.m., where he was very much awake with excitement. He was back on the road again to his sister's house, only a couple hours down the road at 5 a.m. It was time to get breakfast, experience a beautiful sunrise and a bid a farewell to Sis at 7 a.m. When 8:30 a.m. arrived, he was again behind the wheel, and his next stop was Oklahoma City, only seven hours away. Somewhere between Fort Smith and Oklahoma City, Lieutenant Brite woke up from a little nap thanks to the roadside rumble strips. He realized he didn't remember the last few miles at all. Have you ever been Lieutenant Brite? 

We all have been Lieutenant Brite at some point in our lives -- rolling down the windows, turning up the radio, taking another swig of coffee -- we can make it just a few more miles ... or can we? Don't be Lieutenant Brite next time you plan a trip! Always plan smartly, but remember that your plan may not survive the enemy of fatigue. Make sure your vehicle is in good shape for the journey, get a good night's rest, drive during your normal waking hours, stop frequently to stretch and know when to call it quits along the way. The 101 Critical Days of Summer is in full swing and "Murphy" is along for the ride. Don't fall asleep at the wheel.