Driver Fitness, Alcohol, Drugs and Fatigue
What this domain tests
Driver fitness, alcohol, drugs and fatigue tests whether you can recognise when you are not fit to drive and know the legal limits. For an LGV driver, fatigue and alcohol are especially serious because vehicle mass and load increase the consequences of a mistake.
Alcohol
Hong Kong's prescribed limit is 50 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood, equivalent to 22 micrograms in 100 ml of breath or 67 mg in 100 ml of urine (about 0.05% blood alcohol). The limit is not a target. Alcohol slows reactions, narrows attention, impairs judgement of speed and distance, and increases confidence. There is no reliable way to sober up quickly: coffee, cold showers and fresh air do not remove alcohol. Time is the only thing that does. A heavy drinking session can leave you over the limit or impaired the next morning.
Drugs and medicines
Driving under the influence of drugs is an offence. Hong Kong applies zero tolerance to specified illicit drugs, and impairment by any drug can lead to prosecution. Prescription and over-the-counter medicines can cause drowsiness, blurred vision or slowed reactions. Read the label, ask a pharmacist or doctor, and do not drive if the medicine warns against it or if you feel affected. Do not mix medicines with alcohol.
Fatigue and fitness
Fatigue is a major cause of goods vehicle crashes. Plan rest before a long shift, take regular breaks, and stop in a safe place if you feel sleepy. Warning signs include yawning, heavy eyes, drifting lanes, missing signs and difficulty concentrating. A short nap in a safe parking area is better than pressing on. You must also meet the eyesight standard, wear prescribed glasses or lenses, and report medical conditions that affect your driving.
Worked example
After a night shift you feel tired but have a 45-minute drive home. You drink a strong coffee and set off. Twenty minutes later you are yawning and drifting. The coffee has not restored your alertness. The correct action is to stop at a safe place and rest or sleep before continuing. Continuing because you are 'almost home' is the classic fatigue trap.
Traps that cost marks
- Believing one drink is always under the limit.
- Using coffee or a cold shower to sober up.
- Assuming prescription medicine is safe to drive with.
- Pressing on when you feel sleepy because the journey is short.