Fatigue

Don't drive tired

Studies have shown that drivers don’t fall asleep without warning. Drivers who fall asleep at the wheel have often tried to fight off drowsiness by opening a window, or by turning up the radio. This doesn't work for long.

The facts

Research suggests that almost 20% of accidents on major roads are sleep-related
Sleep-related accidents are more likely than others to result in a fatality or serious injury
Peak times for accidents are in the early hours and after lunch

About 40% of sleep-related accidents involve commercial vehicles
Men under 30 have the highest risk of falling asleep at the wheel

Excessive daytime tiredness and drivingOpens new window

THINK! Advice

Plan your journey to include a 15-minute break every two hours.

Don't start a long trip if you're already tired.

Remember the risks if you have to get up unusually early to start a long drive.

Try to avoid long trips between midnight and 6am when you're likely to feel sleepy anyway.

If you start to feel sleepy, find a safe place to stop - not the hardshoulder of a motorway. Drink two cups of coffee or a high-caffeine drink and have a rest for 10 to 15 minutes to allow time for the caffeine to kick in.

Remember, the only real cure for sleepiness is proper sleep. A caffeine drink or a nap is a short-term solution that will only allow you to keep driving for a short time.