Millions Of Sleepy Drivers At The Wheel
Deadly ignorance about tired driving is putting lives at risk as an estimated 2.3 million drivers have dozed off behind the wheel, according to research by road safety charity Brake and Green Flag.
The vast majority of the 1,000 drivers interviewed (78%) put their trust in ineffective measures to combat tiredness such as opening a window or listening to the radio. Drivers were three times more likely to open the window when tired than take a nap while safely parked, which is recommended by the Government. A shocking one in 14 (7%) admitted falling asleep while driving in the past year while a quarter (26%) said they had been a passenger with a tired driver.
National road safety charity Brake and Green Flag are deeply concerned that not enough drivers know the proven measures to avoid tired driving: a good night’s sleep before a journey; stopping at least every two hours; or stopping to take a nap if they feel tired. Brake is calling for the Government to invest in high profile campaigns to combat this deadly ignorance.
Driver tiredness is a factor in 96 fatal crashes a year and leads to countless more serious injuries.
So let’s all heed this advice and take a break even through we know it will cost us a fortune at these motorway services ‘rip-off ‘ stations. It’s a small price to pay in comparison to your or someone else’s life.
FemaleFirst - Jackie Violet