Earn on your own schedule

Driving while tired or fatigued

21 January / Auckland

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Driving for extended periods of time without a break increases the risk of incidents related to fatigue. Research has shown that fatigue can have a similar effect on your driving performance as being intoxicated.
Important: The information described below is not a replacement for any legal obligations or the NZTA’s work time and logbook requirements. As a P Endorsement holder, it is your responsibility to ensure that you continue to maintain your logbook and comply with work time, rest time and logbook requirements.
What are my fatigue obligations?
New Zealand regulations require you to take a:
At least a 30 minute break every 7 hours ☕
At least a 10 hour break, and you can only work a maximum of 13 hours within every 24 hour period 😴
24 hour break every 70 hours ⛹️
Fatigue Management
To help you comply with your safety obligations, the Uber app requires that you complete an educational module on work time requirements as part of your onboarding and the Uber app will also notify you when you are approaching certain driving hour limits.
Remember, driver-partners have a legal obligation to ensure that they do not drive while fatigued. This is your personal responsibility, and you should find this feature useful to help you comply with these obligations.
Fatigue Management FAQs
Why do I need to go offline?Down Small
Driving while fatigued poses a serious safety risk to you, your riders, and all road users. Driver-partners have a legal obligation to effectively manage their fatigue at all times.
What counts as a break?Down Small
During a break, regulations require you to not drive, be available for a trip or undertake any work-related activities (noting that work-related activities can include things like maintaining/cleaning your vehicle or doing administration work).
Do I have to keep a logbook?Down Small
By law, you must maintain a logbook of your work hours and rest times. This should take into account time spent driving on the Uber platform, as well as any other work commitments or associated activity. 
If you drive under Uber’s Small Passenger Service Licence, you are required to download and use Logmate, an online logbook platform approved by the NZTA, to record your time. This allows Uber to collect and retain copies of your logbook as required under local laws. 
If you do not drive under Uber’s Small Passenger Service Licence, you can use any NZTA-approved means to record your work time, including physical logbooks. You must otherwise keep any completed logbook for 12 months after the date of the last entry.
Fatigue FAQs
What are some common signs of fatigue?Down Small
Some of the common signs of fatigue include:
Excessive yawning
Heavy eyes or excessive blinking
Stiffness or cramps
Wandering thoughts
Microsleeps (sudden, uncontrollable episodes of sleep lasting up to 10 seconds)
Fatigue negatively affects your driving by causing slower reaction times, lack of concentration, and poor judgment, which can all lead to increased chances of having a crash.
How can I manage fatigue?Down Small
As stated in our Community Guidelines, sleep is the only true preventative measure against fatigue. You can help manage your fatigue by getting enough sleep before driving. Remember it is your responsibility to ensure that you continue to maintain your logbook and comply with NZ’s work time and break time requirements. Visit the NZTA website to learn more about these requirements.
Driving while fatigued poses a serious safety risk to you and riders, as well as all road users. Driver-partners have a regulatory obligation to manage their work time and break time, and maintain a log book. While our Fatigue Management Policy is intended to help you comply with these obligations, it is your responsibility to ensure that you continue to maintain your logbook and comply with NZ work time requirements.