What to do
As a fleet manager, make sure you inform your drivers that if they start feeling tired on the road they should not try to fight it off. Advise them to take a break as soon as possible in a safe place such as a service station, and never on the hard shoulder.
Once the driver has found a safe place to stop, encourage them to drink a high caffeine drink and take a short nap. However, caffeine is only a temporary measure and its effects won’t last much longer than an hour. If the driver is still tired after their break, they should not drive on.
It’s a common misconception that tiredness can be fought by turning up the radio, opening the window or talking to a passenger. These measures are actually ineffective and you should not advise your drivers to use them.