Page 11 - KZN BUSINESS SENSE Vol3 No3

HOW DRIVER FATIGUE THREATENS ALL ROAD USERS

Chantal Gray - ■ illness helps you become more alert more turn off other electrical success of its learners, stakeholders
Managing Director ■ ■ boredom quickly. equipment and the transport and warehousing
sector as a whole, with a focus on
A lmost eyestrain) driving is that many people do not vehicle and walk for a few defensive driver training. We utilise
After you rest, get out of the
■
sun glare (a major factor in
The problem with long-distance
minutes to be sure you are
professionally-trained facilitators
■
overeating
know, or choose to ignore, how
■
drinking alcoholic beverages
students and we hold full primary
begin to drive again
everyone knows (which you shouldn’t be doing much driving is too much. On long completely awake before you and driving instructors to train
that driving a anyway when you drive) trips, schedule a 15-minute break Five tips to avoid driver fatigue accreditation with the Transport
motor vehicle ■ riding in an overheated or very outside the vehicle every two hours on long trips Education and Training Authorities,
under the cold vehicle (every 160 km). There is no rule as well as secondary accreditation
influence of to say how far you should drive at 1. Plan in advance so you know with the Services SETA.
alcohol or What can you do to prevent any given time, but no destination where you are going to take a
other drugs tiredness from making you is worth risking your life. Don’t break NOSA Logistics offers unit
is a deadly another crash statistic? overextend yourself. Determine a 2. Take a break at least every two standard aligned skills programmes
combination. Start any trip by getting enough reasonable distance in advance, and hours and risk management training
However, few people realise the sleep the night before – at least six stop driving when you reach it. 3. Plan to stay somewhere solutions for drivers, warehousing
staff and other logistics-related
danger associated with driving hours is recommended. Wear good If you must stop for a rest, stop at a overnight if you are going on a occupations. These measurable
while fatigued. In fact, drivers who quality sunglasses, avoid heavy designated rest area or parking lot. long journey solutions increase productivity,
become drowsy or fall asleep at the foods and, of course, don’t consume It is usually not advisable to just pull 4. Share the driving (and rest decrease risk and add to business
wheel contribute to thousands of any alcohol during your trip. If off to the side of the road to sleep, when you are not driving) profitability. The combination of
crashes each year. you can, have another person ride but there may be times when this 5. Try not to drive when you
with you, so you have someone to is preferable to continuing to drive would normally be asleep workplace, practical and theoretical
Fatigue is a condition that affects talk to and to share the driving. and risk falling asleep behind the (early mornings and late training leads to real-time solutions
everyone. Although typically Avoid driving during your body’s wheel. If you are unable to stop at nights) that have an immediate and positive
associated with long-distance downtime. a roadside rest area, make sure you effect on business operations. 
driving, fatigue can even set in after can at least do the following: Six warning signs of driver fatigue
a long day at work, an outing at Be on the alert for these three signs ■ Continuous yawning Contact us at:
the beach – virtually any activity. of sleepiness ■ Ensure you are as far off the ■ Slower reactions info@nosalogistics.co.za
www.nosalogistics.co.za
The Circadian rhythm, the body’s ■ Trouble keeping your eyes open highway as possible ■ Heavy eyes +27 (0)31 705 3225
natural rhythm associated with ■ Difficulty paying attention ■ If it is after dark, find a lighted ■ Stiffness
the earth’s rotation, causes nearly ■ Yawning frequently area to park ■ Daydreaming frequently Sources:
https://arrivealive.co.za/Driver-Fatigue
everyone to be less alert, or even ■ Give yourself a little outside air, ■ Wandering over the centre line www.raf.co.za
drowsy, between 13h00 and 17h00. If you notice any of these danger but make sure that windows are or over the road’s edge
signs, stop periodically for a rest, closed enough to prevent entry
Other contributing (and and if needed, have a quick nap – from the outside How NOSA Logistics can help?
compounding) factors include: even 20 minutes will help. During ■ Lock all doors
NOSA Logistics is a private
■ emotional stress your break, get some exercise – it ■ Turn on your parking lights and training provider committed to the
SOUTH AFRICA DESPERATELY NEEDS MORE ENTREPRENEURS!

David Akhona around them, they want to sized business owners to grow their assist them with their scoping and
White Mahlati - incorporate their lifestyles into business to the next level. From proposal development needs.
- CEO, Director, what they are doing, and they our experience, we understand that
BusinessFit BusinessFit Graduates from the BusinessFit
want to leave a lasting legacy. All entrepreneurs and small/medium
we understand is that in many size business owners have a passion programme are better equipped
circumstances they are regarded to do something they feel is special to run their businesses and are
as rock stars. But, we’re also aware but they may lack the business more confident in themselves as
business leaders. They are surer
that every singer is not necessarily structure and functional area of how their ideas will contribute
a rock star, and it is the same with support which they need.
entrepreneurs and small/medium towards the greater economy,
sized business owners. Small and The solutions that BusinessFit and are more assured of their
medium sized companies may provides are there to develop the business’s financial success.
not all reinvent themselves on a individual leader as well as his/her As a company, BusinessFit is an
continuing basis to take advantage business. The BusinessFit Training enterprise development beneficiary,
Academy provides entrepreneurs
of shifts in consumer behaviour and and as such the company is able
ntrepreneurs stimulate the has not grown, most people will say in market trends. But they provide with deeper understandings of to receive enterprise and supplier
economy, bring innovation access to funding is challenging, essential services into the economy business processes and what is development funds. In consultation
Einto our everyday existence, too much red tape, a shortage of and contribute to employment expected from a ‘business leader’ with the sponsor company, we
and importantly fuel economic skills, too difficult or a multitude statistics. Their role can therefore responsible to staffing relationships, allocate these funds to assist with
growth and create employment of different reasons. Are these not be overlooked. customer care, supplier interaction, the growth and development of
environmental matters, returns
opportunities. reasons real? Yes, perhaps for people As much as 98% of people around to various employer and business entrepreneurs and small/medium
But where do we find these that are not “real” entrepreneurs. the world work in companies that authorities, and shareholder size businesses that are majority
Entrepreneurs traditionally are
Entrepreneurs? We know from people that mentally place a lit employ less than 20 staff. This reporting. Our Round Table Black owned.
international statistics that very few candle further along their path, statistic helps to put into perspective Meetings interrogate the business The BusinessFit team would like
people are naturally entrepreneurial. and then they walk towards it. the value in helping companies and the owner from all angles, and to hear from corporate companies
It is estimated that only 2% of the Entrepreneurs keep moving forward with 1 – 20 staff members run help the entrepreneurs to align their wishing to make a difference in the
population are real entrepreneurs, their businesses effectively. Often specific strategy with the relevant development of entrepreneurs in
and these 2% effect the lives of 98% no matter what the constraints and companies with 20 or less staff business support structures. the country. 
circumstances.
of the population. These statistics do not have a full complement of
may be accurate in developed It’s easy for us to make the business administrators to ensure The third active ingredient in Contact Ms Lindiwe Bhadi
countries, but South Africa and mistake of calling everyone that that vital processes are sustained our successful methodology is Email: lindiwe@businessfit.co.za
mentoring, which is a one-on-one
other developing countries do not owns a business an entrepreneur. in the business. These may process. We’ve realised that at the http://businessfit.co.za/
have the luxury of sitting back and Entrepreneurs differ from other include ensuring that governance entrepreneurial level, aspects such as
waiting for the magical 2% to rise business owners in that they and compliance responsibilities
up and make our country a better bring their unique passion to the are maintained, best practice is business writing, presentation skills,
place for all. We need to have more business environment. They bring introduced, and that functional business etiquette etc, are sometimes
contributors to the growth and new thinking and often reinvent areas are supporting the business not fully realised. The time spent
development of our economy. current processes and structures. effectively. with entrepreneurs in discussions
on these points becomes invaluable.
If we ask people why they feel our Entrepreneurs want to make a BusinessFit helps budding When required, we also do client
difference in the communities
entrepreneur base in South Africa entrepreneurs and small/medium visits with the entrepreneurs and

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