Feeling Tired? Take a Break
Posted on 1st April 2023 at 17:05
The road safety charity, BRAKE says: "Fatigue is a major cause of road crashes and could be as dangerous as drink-driving."
The statistics show:
10-20% of all crashes are estimated to be caused by driver fatigue.
At 6am drivers are 20 times more likely to fall asleep at the wheel than at 10pm.
1 in 8 drivers admit to falling asleep at the wheel.
We probably don’t need to tell you that being fatigued whilst driving is a common cause of accidents. Your ability to react in risky situations is compromised and can be a factor in up to 20 per cent of all road collisions, and up to 25 per cent of fatal and serious crashes.
Whether it’s a disturbed night’s sleep, or returning home from an airport, taking a long journey after a far away business meeting, or getting up super early to make it to the other end of the country, all of these situations can make drivers feel incredibly tired and this, coupled with the monotony of long motorways can have devastating consequences.
The general rule is; if you are driving during the time when you would usually be sleeping, we encourage all drivers to THINK! before getting behind the wheel and to plan in breaks on longer journeys.
Dry eyes, feeling irritable and yawning non-stop are all signs that you could be too tired to drive. Stopping for a snooze at motorway services, or the first safe and convenient location, can make the difference between life and death.
Our tips
Keep hydrated
Turn down the in-car heating
Take regular breaks - 15 minutes for every 2 hours or 100 miles
Drive to the nearest service station for a snooze
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