Intoxication, medication, and fatigue

Part 27 of 50: Safety and Responsibility

Impairment leads to high risk

Signs of fatigue

• You yawn frequently and lose focus
• Your gaze becomes “heavy” and you lose speed
• You don’t remember the last few minutes

How to take responsibility

• Do not drive if you are unsure about impairment
• Plan breaks and change drivers on long trips
• Read the package inserts and follow the advice for medications
• Use the principles from risk assessment and driving in various conditions

Checklist before a long trip

When you should stop

• When you become tired and lose attention
• When you have to struggle to stay focused
• When you feel stressed or uneasy

How to recognize this topic on the test

On the class B theory test, intoxication, medication, and fatigue is usually tested through a practical situation, not as an isolated fact. Read the whole question before looking at the answer options. Ask yourself who has responsibility, which risk is greatest, and what gives the best safety margin.

• Connect the rule to a practical driving situation: what do you see first, who is affected, and which action gives the best safety margin?
• Look for small details in the question, such as signs, speed, visibility, road conditions, positioning and whether another road user has already started an action.
• Choose the answer that shows early risk awareness. On the theory test, the right answer is often the one that prevents danger, not merely the one that is barely legal.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Memorizing a rule without connecting it to positioning, speed and cooperation.
• Overlooking words such as “before”, “after”, “at” or “may” in the question.
• Choosing an answer that is legal in theory but poor defensive driving in practice.

How to practice further

Use this article as a checklist after taking a practice test. If you answer a question about this topic incorrectly, write down what you missed: rule, sign, positioning, speed, responsibility or an exception. Then take a few new questions on the same topic before mixing it back into a full test.

Read also:

• The theory test and the practical driving test
• Ferry rules and boarding
• Driving and rest time
• Signs and road markings

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