Fatigue, distractions and driver responsibility

Key points

1. Most adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep to stay alert.

   Source: Handbook p. 21

   “Get adequate sleep most adults need 7 to 9 hours to maintain proper alertness”
   Kansas Driving Handbook, Handbook p. 21

2. On long trips take a break about every 100 miles or 2 hours.

   Source: Handbook p. 21

   “Schedule proper breaks about every 100 miles or 2 hours during long trips”
   Kansas Driving Handbook, Handbook p. 21

3. If you are tired, a 15 to 20 minute nap in a safe parking area helps.

   Source: Handbook p. 21

   “Take a nap find a safe parking area to take a 15 to 20-minute nap.”
   Kansas Driving Handbook, Handbook p. 21

4. About 2 cups of coffee can raise alertness for several hours, but caffeine wears off, so do not rely on it.

   Source: Handbook p. 21

   “Consume caffeine the equivalent of 2 cups of coffee can increase alertness for several hours.”
   Kansas Driving Handbook, Handbook p. 21

5. Try not to drive between midnight and 6 a.m.

   Source: Handbook p. 21

   “Try not to drive late at night between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m.”
   Kansas Driving Handbook, Handbook p. 21

6. Kansas law bans using any electronic device to write, send or read a written communication while driving, including texts and email.

   Source: Handbook p. 19

   “Kansas law prohibits the use of any electronic device to “write, send, or read” a written communication while driving. This includes texting, email, or any other writing.”
   Kansas Driving Handbook, Handbook p. 19

7. If you need to use your cell phone, stop in a safe parking area.

   Source: Handbook p. 22

   “Avoid using cell phones. If you need to use your cell phone stop in a safe parking area.”
   Kansas Driving Handbook, Handbook p. 22

8. If a distraction leads to a crash, the responsibility is yours, not the distraction's.

   Source: Handbook p. 22

   “If you are distracted and you experience a crash, the responsibility falls on you, not the distraction.”
   Kansas Driving Handbook, Handbook p. 22

9. No rule gives you the right to insist on going first: you must do everything you can to avoid hitting a pedestrian, property or another vehicle.

   Source: Handbook p. 33

   “You must do everything possible you can to prevent striking a pedestrian, property, or another vehicle, regardless of the circumstances.”
   Kansas Driving Handbook, Handbook p. 33

10. If your license requires corrective lenses, it is illegal to move a vehicle without wearing them.

    Source: Handbook p. 20

    “If your driver license says corrective lenses are required, it is illegal to move a vehicle without using corrective lenses.”
    Kansas Driving Handbook, Handbook p. 20

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Kansas practice test

1. 1. Why is fatigue dangerous when operating a motor vehicle?

   1. It improves concentration after several hours without rest
   2. It impairs vision and judgment, slows decisions, and can lead to falling asleep
   3. It affects comfort only and has no effect on crash risk
   4. It can be fully cancelled by turning up the radio
   Show answer

   It impairs vision and judgment, slows decisions, and can lead to falling asleep. Kansas compares fatigue with alcohol and drugs because it impairs vision and judgment. It can increase errors involving speed and distance, lengthen decision time, raise crash risk, and cause a driver to fall asleep behind the wheel. Turning up the radio is listed as a warning sign, not a cure. The dependable response is to stop driving, rest, and sleep rather than trying to force alertness through noise or willpower.

2. 2. How often does the Kansas handbook say to schedule breaks on a long trip to fight fatigue?

   1. Every 500 miles
   2. Only when you feel sleepy
   3. About every 100 miles or two hours
   4. Once a day
   Show answer

   About every 100 miles or two hours. Before a trip, get adequate sleep, since most adults need 7 to 9 hours to stay alert, and schedule proper breaks about every 100 miles or two hours. Waiting until you feel sleepy is too late, because fatigue makes you irritable and can put you to sleep at the wheel. Plan long trips with a companion who can watch for warning signs and share the driving.

3. 3. What does the handbook say about insisting on priority in a traffic conflict?

   1. The vehicle with priority may ignore pedestrians
   2. A driver may force the movement because priority guarantees safety
   3. Priority rules apply only when a police officer is present
   4. A driver must still do everything possible to prevent a collision
   Show answer

   A driver must still do everything possible to prevent a collision. Kansas explains that priority rules tell another road user who must wait, but they do not excuse a collision. The handbook says drivers must do everything possible to avoid striking a pedestrian, vehicle, or property regardless of the circumstances. A driver may have priority and still need to slow, stop, or yield when another person makes a mistake. Treat right-of-way as a communication aid, keep scanning for conflicts, and choose the action that prevents impact.

Source: the Kansas Driving Handbook, Section 3: Be in Shape to Drive. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.