Speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol get a great deal of attention from the traffic authorities and media, but drivers should also be aware of the dangers that fatigue, headaches and use of medication pose for road safety.

That?s the word from Dr. Eliot Shevel, medical director at The Headache Clinic. Drivers embarking on long car journeys to holiday destinations this festive season, especially those prone to headaches and migraines, should take precautions to avoid headaches and fatigue while they?re on the road, says Dr Shevel.

Headaches can compromise road safety for a number of reasons, including loss of concentration while driving because of the pain and discomfort as well drowsiness because of the sleepless nights and overuse of headache medication by headache sufferers, he adds. Driving while fatigued or after taking strong medication can be as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol.

Dr Shevel says that how the driver sits while at the wheel affects visibility and alertness. Poor posture while driving can cause headache, neck pain, backache, and fatigue.

For their own safety and that of their passengers, drivers can take the following steps:

  • Set the back rest of the seat at a 100-110 degree angle to its horizontal. The seat should be almost upright, just leaning slightly backwards.

  • Sit with your hips to the back of the seat, and your back firmly against the seat for back support. Depending on the shape of the seat, you may need a rolled up towel or a commercial back support in the small of your back to maintain the correct back curvature.

  • Ensure that the seat is at the correct distance from the pedals and the steering wheel to avoid leaning forward or reaching. The knees and elbows should be slightly bent, (even when extended for a turn), with the wrists resting on top of the steering wheel and the knees at least a few inches away from the dash or steering column. There should be about 25cm between the driver and the steering wheel.

  • The headrest should be tilted forward so that the head is no more than 10 cm in front of it. The head should not be touching the headrest in the normal driving position. The height of the headrest should be adjusted to be level with the middle of the head, not the back of the neck.

  • Hands should be positioned at 10 o?clock and 2 o?clock on the steering wheel and should be lower than shoulder height.

  • Shevel says that drivers should change position from time to time to avoid stiff muscles and joints, and also stop at least every two hours on long trips to get out of the vehicle and stretch.

    • ?Incorrect posture can lead to headaches, neck pain, back pain, and most dangerous of all, fatigue. These may develop if the driver?s posture is slumped, with rounded back and shoulders. Poor posture restricts proper diaphragmatic breathing, and may hasten fatigue while driving,? says Dr Shevel. ?An added problem with poor driving posture is that it may become one?s ingrained movement pattern for sitting the rest of the day at your desk and computer.?

    A correct posture, meanwhile will ensure the driver?s comfort and help to improve safety for everyone in the car, by improving the driver?s field of vision since he will be ability to rotate his head more freely and comfortably and guarantee faster reaction times as a result of positioning the driver?s body optimally in relation to the steering wheel and foot controls.

    In addition, the driver will be more alert since the dangers of distractions from pain and discomfort are reduced.