Don't Drive Tired
One in five road accidents on motorways and other monotonous roads are caused by someone falling asleep at the wheel, mostly involving running off the road or into the back of another vehicle. Around 23,300 accidents a year are linked to driver fatigue.
Sleep-related crashes are particularly dangerous and likely to result in serious injury because the driver won't have woken in time to brake before impact.
You may find yourself fighting sleep in a warm car by winding down the window or turning up the radio but you might still nod off for a couple of seconds. If you're doing 70mph on a motorway you'll have travelled an eighth of a mile in that time.
Some helpful tips to avoid tiredness when driving
Do
- Plan to stop for a 15 minute break every 2 hours on a long journey.
- Try to get a good night’s sleep before starting a long journey.
- Share the driving if possible.
- Stop as soon as it is safe and take a break if you feel tired – BUT don’t ever stop on the hard shoulder of a motorway.
- Drink a cup or two of strong coffee followed by a short nap of no more than 15-20 minutes once you have stopped somewhere safe.
Don’t
- Start a trip if you are already tired.
- Drive for long distances after a full day’s work.
- Drive after you’ve been drinking.
- Drive if you are taking medicines that make you feel drowsy.
- Make long trips between midnight and 6am when natural alertness is low.
Research has indicated that
- Company car drivers fall asleep at the wheel more often, and are more likely to be involved in accidents than private car drivers.
- People who drive occasionally at night are more likely to have problems than those who work a regular night shift and whose body clock adjusts.
- Drivers do not just fall asleep suddenly. There is plenty of warning.
- Getting out of your vehicle for a walk will have only a limited effect.
- Opening the window and/or turning on the radio will have little effect on your tiredness.
- Caffeine does help but it needs 20-30 minutes to take effect.