Alcohol, drugs, fatigue and distracted driving
Impairment
The safest legal position in Iraq is zero alcohol before driving; even small amounts slow reaction and reduce lane control. Illegal drugs and impairing prescription medicines are equally offences. Fatigue is impairment: yawning, heavy eyelids, drifting, and missing signs mean stop, not push on.
Managing fatigue and distraction
- On a long trip, plan a break at least every two hours; a 15-minute stop with fresh air helps.
- Do not rely on coffee, cold air, or loud music to overcome sleepiness.
- Put the phone out of reach or use a hands-free system only for brief calls; texting is never safe.
- Set navigation and climate controls before moving.
- Do not eat, smoke, or read while driving.
Worked example
You have driven four hours from Basra to Nasiriyah and feel drowsy. You open the window and turn up the radio. That is not a fix: the only reliable remedy is to stop in a safe place and sleep briefly or end the journey. A 15-minute nap can restore alertness; if drowsiness returns within minutes, you are not fit to continue.
Traps
Thinking hands-free is risk-free; assuming a short trip cannot be affected by fatigue; and using energy drinks as a substitute for sleep.