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Too Tired to Drive

March 28th, 2008. Posted in Motoring & Driving Tips

A simple yawn can mean a few things – you’re stuck in a boring meeting or it’s time for an early night, for example.

But a recent survey by the Department for Transport (DfT) said that motorists who ignore that innocent yawn are putting themselves and other road users at risk if they press on regardless.

As many as one in five of all crashes on major roads are caused by tired drivers.  And it may be even more – because those drivers that survive a crash (or a near miss) are unlikely to admit that they were too tired to drive when it happened.

The DfT said that we all want to finish our journeys as quickly as possible but being tired at the wheel is a “proven killer” that we cannot ignore.   Those who drive for work are particularly at risk.

The IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) said that although falling asleep straight away while you’re driving is very rare, it is surprising how many people ignore the signs of fatigue beforehand.  The IAM advises:

  • Don’t start a long trip if you’re already tired.  Remember that a working day away from the office will involve extra travelling time that could leave you exhausted by the time you are heading for home.
  • Plan your journey to include at least a 15 minute break every two hours, even if you feel you don’t need it.  You will be refreshed.  Use the break away from the car to catch up with phone messages.
  • If you feel drowsy, don’t press on regardless.  Find a safe place to stop (but not the hard shoulder). If you have a nap, take the keys out the ignition and lock the car doors.
  • As an emergency measure drink two cups of coffee or a high-caffeine drink and have a rest for 10-15 minutes to allow time for the caffeine to kick in.

Lastly, don’t rely on what some drivers admitted to as their solution – slapping themselves in the face!  Other non-solutions reported to the IAM include turning up the radio, singing, shaking the head vigorously and opening all the windows.

This article has been reproduced with the permission of the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists)