Alcohol, Drugs, Fatigue and Driver Fitness
Driving requires full attention and quick reactions. Alcohol, drugs (including some medicines), and fatigue all slow reaction time, impair judgement and reduce coordination. Bahrain prohibits driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and penalties are severe. Even small amounts of alcohol affect driving, so the only safe approach is not to drink at all if you will drive.
Many prescription and over-the-counter medicines cause drowsiness. Read the label; if it warns of drowsiness, do not drive. Combining medicines, or medicines with alcohol, increases impairment. Illegal drugs are always incompatible with driving. A trap in questions is the idea that coffee, fresh air or a short nap "sobers you up"; only time removes alcohol, and no amount of coffee restores lost reaction time.
Fatigue is a serious hazard. Warning signs include yawning, heavy eyelids, drifting across lanes, missing signs, and difficulty concentrating. The correct response is to stop somewhere safe and rest; opening a window or turning up the radio is only a temporary distraction and does not cure fatigue. Long drives, night driving, and driving after poor sleep all raise risk.
Fitness also covers vision, illness and emotion. If you need glasses or contact lenses to meet the vision standard, wear them whenever driving. Do not drive when ill, extremely stressed, or after a procedure that affects alertness until cleared.
Worked example: on a long highway drive you begin yawning and notice you cannot remember the last few kilometres. You should not push on to the next town. You should leave the road at the next safe place, rest, and resume only when alert. If you feel drowsy again, stop again.
Rule of thumb: if you would not trust a tired or impaired friend to drive you, do not drive yourself.