"Sleepy Driver Syndrome" (SDS)

I am not sure if this is a phenomenon that only occurs in Singapore, maybe it is a worldwide phenomenon, who knows! But each time I take a public transport either taxi or a public bus, I would tend to see drivers on the road exhibiting signs of SDS or Sleepy Driver Syndrome.

It seems to afflict all classes of drivers, especially after lunch in the afternoons. And I typically see this along the expressways where the roads are long and straight, there seem to be a few cars/or larger vehicles that tend to suffer from SDS.

What happens to a driver experiencing Sleepy Driver Syndrome is that the driver of the vehicle tends to step on the brakes a lot, and this jerking back and forth motion actually helps them wake up and stay alert. However, that same jerking back and forth motion is also the cause for many to suffer from Motion Sickness as a result of that. This is further compounded by the fact that it is Singapore and the afternoon sun is always constantly blazing.

In other countries, Sleepy Driver Syndrome is probably also known as Fatigue Driving, which is extremely dangerous. I hope that none of us practice SDS while on our roads. Let's keep Singapore safe. So please drive safely.

And if you were to come across someone suffering from Sleepy Driver Syndrome, please do your part and wake them up. It could save lives. It could save your life.