Fatigue, distraction and emotions

Key points

1. Fatigue can affect your vision and slow your decisions. Avoid driving when tired.

   Source: Handbook p. 22

   “Fatigue can affect your vision and increase the time to make decisions. Avoid driving if you are tired or fatigued.”
   Kentucky Driver Manual, Handbook p. 22

2. Most people need 7 to 9 hours of sleep to stay alert during the day.

   Source: Handbook p. 22

   “Get adequate sleep - most people need 7 to 9 hours to maintain proper alertness during the day.”
   Kentucky Driver Manual, Handbook p. 22

3. On long trips, plan to stop about every 100 miles or 2 hours.

   Source: Handbook p. 22

   “Plan to stop about every 100 miles or 2 hours during long trips.”
   Kentucky Driver Manual, Handbook p. 22

4. If you feel tired, pull off at the next exit or rest area for a 15 to 20 minute nap.

   Source: Handbook p. 22

   “If you start feeling tired, stop driving, and pull off at the next exit or rest area to take a 15-to-20-minute nap”
   Kentucky Driver Manual, Handbook p. 22

5. Try having caffeine before a short nap to get the benefits of both.

   Source: Handbook p. 23

   “Try consuming caffeine before taking a short nap to get the benefits of both.”
   Kentucky Driver Manual, Handbook p. 23

6. A text takes your eyes off the road for about 4.6 seconds, a football field at 55 mph.

   Source: Handbook p. 23

   “Sending or receiving a text takes a driver's eyes from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds; at 55 mph, this is the equivalent of driving the length of an entire football field”
   Kentucky Driver Manual, Handbook p. 23

7. Reaching for, dialing or texting on a hand held phone raised crash risk three times.

   Source: Handbook p. 23

   “engaging in visual-manual subtasks (such as reaching for a phone, dialing and texting) associated with the use of hand-held phones and other portable devices increased the risk of getting into a crash by three times.”
   Kentucky Driver Manual, Handbook p. 23

8. If you are angry or worried, stay off the road until the feelings pass.

   Source: Handbook p. 24

   “If you are angry or worried, give yourself time to cool off. If necessary, take a short walk or nap, but stay off the road until the symptoms have passed.”
   Kentucky Driver Manual, Handbook p. 24

9. If you are involved in a road rage incident, do not retaliate or argue.

   Source: Handbook p. 24

   “If you should become involved in a road-rage incident, do not retaliate, or engage in an argument with the enraged driver.”
   Kentucky Driver Manual, Handbook p. 24

10. Road rage is criminal behavior and is prohibited.

    Source: Handbook p. 24

    “Road rage is uncontrolled anger that results in violence or threatened violence on the roadway. Road rage is a criminal behavior and is prohibited.”
    Kentucky Driver Manual, Handbook p. 24

Numbers to know

3 questions from the Kentucky practice test

1. 1. Why is driving while fatigued dangerous?

   1. Fatigue makes stopping distances shorter
   2. Fatigue improves concentration during long trips
   3. Fatigue affects only passengers, not vehicle control
   4. Fatigue can affect vision and increase decision time
   Show answer

   Fatigue can affect vision and increase decision time. Fatigue is more than feeling sleepy. Kentucky describes it as physical or mental tiredness and warns that it can affect vision and increase the time needed to make decisions. That delay can leave less time to recognize a hazard, steer, or stop. It does not improve concentration, and its effects apply to the driver rather than only passengers. Tiredness also does not shorten stopping distance. A useful driving cue is any growing sleepiness: avoid continuing, pull off at a safe place, and rest before returning to the road.

2. 2. If you are angry or worried before driving, what does the manual advise?

   1. Follow closely so other drivers notice your concern
   2. Drive faster to finish the trip before emotions grow
   3. Use the vehicle to vent frustration at another driver
   4. Stay off the road until the symptoms have passed
   Show answer

   Stay off the road until the symptoms have passed. Strong emotions can interfere with attention, judgment, and information processing. The manual advises giving yourself time to cool off and staying off the road until the symptoms have passed, with a short walk or nap if needed. Speeding, venting through the vehicle, and following closely add danger rather than solving the emotional problem. If another driver is involved, remain calm and careful, and postpone the trip or have someone else drive until you regain control.

3. 3. What does the Kentucky manual suggest doing before a short nap to fight fatigue?

   1. Consume caffeine first to get the benefits of both
   2. Turn up the radio
   3. Drink water only
   4. Exercise vigorously
   Show answer

   Consume caffeine first to get the benefits of both. The manual suggests consuming caffeine before taking a short nap to get the benefits of both, since caffeine takes time to work and the nap fills that gap. Pull off at the next exit or rest area for a 15 to 20 minute nap or sleep for the night, avoid driving late at night, and remember that plenty of rest beforehand is the best cure.

Source: the Kentucky Driver Manual, Section Three: 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.