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The Dangers of Driving Tired 

 

October 29, 2004

 

 

The stark dangers of driving tired were highlighted in new research published earlier in the month by [UK] Road Safety Minister David Jamieson.

 

The research on selected motorways and trunk roads [in Britain] shows that:

  • 17% of road crashes resulting in any injury or death were sleep related; **

  • One quarter of all road crashes that caused death or serious injury were sleep related; **

  • 85% of drivers causing sleep related crashes were men;

  • 67% of sleep related crashes were caused by car drivers and 32% were caused by drivers of good vehicles;

  • While road crashes occur mostly on Fridays, these sleep related crashes occurred least on Fridays and mostly on Mondays.

The findings coincide with a new phase of Department for Transport (DfT) radio advertising alerting drivers to the dangers of 'microsleeps'. http://www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk

Microsleeps are potentially fatal dozes which last between two and 30 seconds and normally occur when people are tired but trying to stay awake. The advertising underpins the Department's message that people should plan their journeys with time added for regular breaks.

 

David Jamieson, Road Safety Minister said: ''This research demonstrates the problem and extent of driving tired. Our campaign aims to highlight how dangerous it is, so that people realise the importance of planning their journeys and taking regular breaks. We're all guilty of wanting to get to places as quickly as possible but a short break can make all the difference.''

To avoid the dangers of driving tired, the DfT recommends:

  • On long journeys, plan your trip to include a 15-minute break every two hours;

  • Stopping in a safe place (not the hard shoulder of the motorway) and drinking two cups of coffee or a high caffeine drink, followed by a 15 minute nap (while the caffeine kicks in) is an effective way of combating tiredness. It will make very little difference to your journey time;

  • Don't start your journey tired. Be aware of the risks if you get up unusually early to start your trip, or have a long drive back at the end of your holiday;

  • If you're feeling sleepy, opening the window for cold air or turning up the radio are of very limited benefit and sufficient only while trying to find a safe place for a break.

The DfT spends approximately £1m per year on 'Think! Don't Drive Tired' messages. This includes:

  • Advice and guidance encouraging people not to start a journey tired, to take a break in a safe place (not on the hard shoulder) and drink two cups of coffee or a high-caffeine drink, followed by a 15-minute nap (while the caffeine kicks in) to help combat tiredness.

  • Regular advertising campaigns, posters in motorway service areas, truck back messages and advisory leaflets.

  • Signs at key locations and variable message signs warning drivers of the dangers of falling asleep at the wheel.

  • Making links with private sector companies to work in partnership with the DfT to communicate our driver tiredness road safety messages.

The research, conducted by Loughborough University Sleep Research Centre, will be available at http://www.dft.gov.uk

 

The DfT estimates that about 300 people a year are killed and many more are seriously injured where a driver has fallen asleep at the wheel.
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2004_0131

Source: RoadSafe News -- October 2004

 

 

** In British road casualty statistics the definition of serious injury is: "An injury for which a person is detained in hospital as an "in-patient", or any of the following injuries whether or not they are detained in hospital: fractures, concussion, internal injuries, crush injuries, burns (excluding friction burns), severe cuts and lacerations, severe general shock requiring medical treatment and injuries causing death 30 or more days after the accident. An injured casualty is recorded as seriously or slightly injured by the police on the basis of information available within a short time of the accident. This generally will not reflect the results of a medical examination, but may be influenced according to whether the casualty is hospitalised or not."  

[DSA Comment: We thank the DfT for supplying this definition very promptly and for clarifying the difference between the two  passages marked **, which are now also italicised to help with this clarification.]