Half of Britain’s drivers risk dozing off at the wheel
More than 50 per cent of Britain’s motorists habitually drive for more than two hours on long motorway journeys without taking a break – and half of those, a staggering 25 per cent of all drivers, never stop for a break during motorway journeys lasting four hours or longer. These are the shocking findings of a nationwide survey undertaken by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) and Auto Express magazine as part of National Motorway Month also supported by the RAC Foundation and BSM.
The survey, conducted by NOP World Automotive, also reveals that a third of drivers admit to having driven continuously for four hours or more without a rest, on at least one occasion.
Company car drivers generally continue for longer periods without a break than drivers of privately owned vehicles, while female drivers tend to stop more frequently than their male counterparts. Motorists who drive cars registered since September last year are more liable to plough on without stopping, as are those who drive a roadster, coupé or convertible. When it comes to age, drivers in the 25-34 age group are the worst offenders.
The results show that many drivers are either unaware of or ignoring official advice from the Department for Transport to take a 15-minute break every two hours on a long journey. The DfT says more than one-fifth of motorway collisions are caused by drivers falling asleep at the wheel and up to one in ten crashes on all of Britain's roads – around 23,000 a year – are also linked to fatigue.
The IAM’s Chief Examiner, Bryan Lunn, commented: "Driver fatigue can easily set in on a long motorway journey, even if the driver begins the journey feeling fresh and alert. The problem can be particularly acute during the summer, when holiday traffic is at its peak and people are eager to reach distant destinations as soon as possible.
"Added to that," Lunn continued, "some medicines such as hay fever tablets may cause or increase drowsiness. Anyone taking such medication should check the precautions that are printed on the pack."
The IAM offers the following tips to reduce the effects of tiredness on a long motorway journey:
- Plan in advance so that you can stop for a 15-minute break every two hours.
- Try to avoid making long trips between midnight and 6am, when natural alertness is low.
- Never start a journey if you are already feeling tired.
- If you start to feel sleepy, find a safe place to stop (not on the hard shoulder), take a short nap and resume your journey 15-20 minutes later. If necessary, drink strong coffee or a high-energy drink or take a caffeine tablet before setting off again.
- Don’t rely on opening the window or turning up the radio – these
will do little to stop you falling asleep at the wheel.
David Johns, editor in chief of Auto Express magazine, said: "The problem
of driver fatigue could also be alleviated by providing more rest areas on motorways.
Our survey shows that almost two-thirds of drivers would like to see more places
where they can pull in and take a break. Everyone deserves the chance to stop
without paying service station prices for a coffee. The picnic-style areas that
are positioned frequently along French motorways are an ideal example, and we
would warmly welcome the introduction of such facilities."
