I am delighted to announce the launch of the new training module I have written for the CIHT Learn platform, Driver Nutrition and Fatigue: Safety on the Road.  We invite the Transport industry to become more proactive regarding driver health – beyond compliance.

Driver Fatigue and Road Safety

Driver fatigue remains one of the most significant risks affecting road safety, yet discussions around fatigue often focus solely on sleep. This new course explores a broader and equally important question; how do nutrition, hydration, circadian rhythms and workplace culture influence driver alertness, decision-making, reaction times and overall wellbeing?

Consequently, one of the key messages regarding driver health is that compliance alone does not guarantee safety.

Organisations may be compliant, meet all regulatory requirements, but still face risks associated with fatigue, poor nutrition, dehydration and chronic health conditions. Therefore the challenge for the sector is to move from asking, ‘Are we / our drivers compliant?’ to asking ‘Are our drivers genuinely fit and healthy? Can they perform safely every day?’ This course supports that wider conversation.

The Cost

Fatigue and poor health can contribute to absenteeism, presenteeism, reduced performance and the loss of experienced staff from the workforce. So supporting healthier eating, hydration and fatigue-management practices, nutrition can form part of a wider organisational strategy and workplace culture.  As a result, this can improve employee wellbeing, enhance retention and maintain a safe, productive and sustainable workforce.

Designed for drivers, supervisors and transport leaders, we examine the critical links between health and safety performance. Through engaging scenarios, practical reflection activities and evidence-based tools, learners will gain strategies they can apply immediately. Both personally and within their organisations, reducing fatigue risk and improving safety outcomes.

Finding Solutions

The course covers:

• The relationship between nutrition, fatigue and road safety.
• How blood sugar instability affects alertness, mood and decision-making.
• Food and hydration strategies that support sustained energy levels.
• The impact of circadian rhythms on fatigue and meal timing.
• Practical nutrition approaches for early, late and night shifts.
• Recognising the symptoms of dehydration, low blood sugar and stress.
• Developing a personal action plan to improve energy and wellbeing.
• Organisational measures that can support healthier, safer drivers.

This is a holistic approach to fatigue management, where the module highlights how small changes in daily habits and workplace practices can make a meaningful difference. To both driver wellbeing and road safety outcomes.

The course provides practical, actionable insights that can be put into practice straight away.

Links

Access is available now through the CIHT Learn platform via the link above and is free to members of the Bus Centre of Excellence. I hope it proves a valuable resource for anyone committed to improving driver health, wellbeing and safety.

Your feedback on any helpful updates to the material or results are most valuable, thank you.