One in ten at-work drivers say they fall asleep at the wheel

One in ten people who drive for work (10%) have admitted falling asleep at the wheel in the past year, according to new research by road safety charity Brake and Green Flag.

The shocking figure is more than twice as high as the number of drivers who don’t drive for work but who say they have fallen asleep in the past year, which is still an alarmingly high one in 25 drivers (4%).

Nodding off for just a second or two at the wheel can kill: travelling at 60mph on a motorway (one of the main types of road where fatigue commonly occurs), a driver covers 27 metres (88 feet) per second.

One of the main causes of nodding off at the wheel is insufficient sleep the night before. The research has found that people who drive for work are more likely to drive after insufficient sleep. Half (50%) of people who drive for work who were surveyed say they sometimes drive after less than five hours’ sleep, compared to just over a third (35%) of people who drive only outside work. Research shows that if you drive after less than five hours’ sleep, you have just a one in ten chance of staying fully awake on a lengthy journey.

An estimated six people die each week in crashes caused by tired drivers. Tired driving crashes tend to be high-speed, as drivers do not brake, meaning the risk of death or serious injury is greater than in some other types of crashes.

Brake and Green Flag are also calling on all drivers to take responsibility for making sure they are fit to drive, including ensuring they have a good night’s sleep before driving and allowing time to take regular breaks (at least 15 minutes every two hours). People who drive for work should also:

• Talk to their employer if they feel their schedule is unrealistic and could encourage tired driving;
• Inform their employer if they are having trouble sleeping or taking medication that can cause drowsiness;
• Stay within driving hours as stated by company policy (or Government legislation where applicable);
• Encourage their employer to access guidance from Brake on fleet safety including tiredness issues.

Brake is also calling on the Government to invest in high-profile TV media campaigns to raise awareness about tired driving among companies and individual drivers so they know the extent of the problem and how to tackle it.