Driving tips and other life stuff

The dangers of driving tired

You don't drink and drive, you don't speed, you never use your phone in the car: you're a safe driver. But even the safest of drivers can forget that fatigue is one of the biggest dangers on the road.

The dangers

According to THINK! road safety, nearly 20% of accidents on major roads are caused by tiredness. That's a large percentage but even worse, these accidents are more likely to result in serious injury or death.

And according to the DVLA, it's drivers under 30 that are most likely to drive tired. Take a look at their Tiredness Can Kill leaflet for more facts.

The side effects

If you nod off for 6 seconds at 70mph you will travel nearly 200 metres in an uncontrolled vehicle. Don't risk it.

• Difficulty focusing
• Slowed reaction time
• Impaired judgement
• Increased road rage

Ring any bells? Sounds a lot like drink driving doesn't it?

What you can do about it

1. If you have a long day of driving ahead of you, plan to get a good night's sleep
2. Avoid long journeys between midnight and 6am - your body knows it should be sleeping!
3. Plan your journey with 15 minute breaks every two hours
4. If you start to feel drowsy, find a safe place to stop and walk around or get a coffee
5. Don't rely on the short-term buzz of caffeine: you can't put off real rest for very long

Updated: 04/01/2019