Driving while tired can be as dangerous as driving while drunk

We know drink driving is dangerous but driving while tired can be just as dangerous according to the government road safety group THINK!.

Driver tiredness accounts for around one fifth of accidents on major roads, and is responsible for around 300 deaths per year on UK roads.

The report found the following facts about driving when tired:

• An estimated 300 people a year are killed where a driver has fallen asleep at the wheel.
  
• Research commissioned by the Government found that falling asleep at the wheel accounts for up to 20% of crashes on motorways or similar roads, and as many as one in ten of all crashes on Britain's roads.
  
• If you fall asleep at the wheel you are 50% more likely to die or suffer serious injury because a sleeping driver does not react before a crash.
  
• The greatest risk of falling asleep at the wheel is between midnight-6am and 2-4pm.
  
• It can affect any driver, but people who drive as part of their job may be more at risk. About 40% of sleep related crashes are work-related, inasmuch as they involve commercial vehicles.
  
• Alcohol and drugs (including some medicines) can make you more tired without you realising it.

Tips for drivers feeling a bit sleepy

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

Drinking 2 cups of coffee or other high caffeine drink and having a rest to allow time for the caffeine to kick in are effective methods of combating tiredness.

Have a good night's sleep before setting out on a long journey.

Remember the risks if you have to get up unusually early to start your trip, or have a long drive home after a full day’s work.

Avoid making long trips between midnight- 6am and 2-4pm when natural alertness is low.

Share the driving if possible.

If you start to feel sleepy find a safe place to stop (not the hard shoulder of a motorway it is very very dangerous and the police are pretty sharp about moving you on) as soon as possible.

Note: Opening the window or turning up the radio does little to prevent a driver from falling asleep at the wheel.

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