Alcohol, Drugs and Fatigue Flashcards

The legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for a learner or P-plate driver in NSW is:

Answer: Zero (0.00)

Learner and provisional (P1 and P2) drivers must have a zero blood alcohol concentration. Any alcohol in your system while driving on an L or P licence is an offence.

The general BAC limit for a fully licensed (unrestricted) driver in NSW is below:

Answer: 0.05

Fully licensed drivers must keep their blood alcohol concentration below 0.05. Learner and provisional drivers must be at zero. Driving over the limit is a serious offence.

Which of the following is the only reliable way to reduce your blood alcohol concentration?

Answer: Allowing enough time for your body to process the alcohol

Only time lowers your BAC as the liver processes alcohol at a roughly fixed rate. Coffee, food, exercise or a shower may make you feel more alert but do not reduce your BAC.

Driving while affected by illegal drugs, or some prescription medicines, is dangerous because they can:

Answer: Impair your judgement, reaction time and coordination

Illegal drugs and some medicines slow your reactions, impair judgement and coordination, and can cause drowsiness. Police conduct random drug testing and driving while drug-affected is an offence.

If a medicine label or your pharmacist warns the medicine may cause drowsiness, you should:

Answer: Not drive until you know how it affects you, and follow the advice

Some prescription and over-the-counter medicines cause drowsiness or affect concentration. Check the label, ask your pharmacist or doctor, and do not drive if you may be impaired.

Early warning signs that you are too tired to drive safely include:

Answer: Yawning, sore eyes, drifting in the lane and difficulty concentrating

Yawning, heavy or sore eyes, drifting across lanes, missing signs and trouble concentrating are signs of fatigue. Fatigue slows reactions much like alcohol and is a major cause of crashes.

The safest action if you start to feel drowsy while driving is to:

Answer: Pull over somewhere safe and rest, or change drivers

The only real cure for fatigue is sleep. Pull over at a safe place such as a rest area, take a short nap or swap drivers. Fresh air and loud music only mask tiredness briefly.

On a long trip, a good way to help prevent driver fatigue is to:

Answer: Take a regular break at least every two hours

Taking a break of at least 15 minutes about every two hours, sharing the driving and getting a good sleep beforehand all help manage fatigue on long trips.