There is little doubt that driver fatigue is a major contributing factor leading to a high number of road traffic accidents resulting in fatalities and serious injury on the nation's road each year. While it is not possible to provide exact statistics relating to the number of collisions caused by tired drivers who fall asleep at the wheel.
Government figures show that around 20% of all accidents that have occurred on what are termed ‘monotonous roads' such as motorways and other featureless dual carriageways are linked to a level of driver fatigue.
The researched indicated that:
25% all road crashes resulting in death or serious injury were driver fatigue 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.
Safe driving – whether it be in a goods vehicle or otherwise, depends on the level of alertness of the driver and their reaction times.
A driver who is feeling tired will naturally be less vigilant and less able to react quickly to changing road conditions. We all know when we are feeling tired and it is important that a driver who recognises the symptoms of fatigue takes immediate sensible action. |
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The Highway Code advises:
- Make sure you are fit to drive. Do not set out on a journey longer than an hour if you feel tired.
- Avoid going on long journeys between midnight and 6am. This is when we naturally are less alert.
- Plan sufficient rest periods on your journey. You should have a break of at least 15 minutes after every two hours of driving.
- If you feel sleepy, stop in a safe place. NOT the hard shoulder of a motorway
- The best ways to counteract fatigue are to take a short nap or drink a couple ofstrong cups of coffee. Opening the cab window for fresh air or turning up the radio may help for a short time, but are at best a temporary measure that will help you get to a safe parking place.
Any driver who ignores this advice is frankly, murderously irresponsible. Whilst it is not a specified offence to drive when tired, it is very clear that a tired driver is more likely to cause an accident. If death results, then a charge of ‘causing death by dangerous driving' may follow and drivers who have fallen asleep at the wheel have been convicted.
Drivers of commercial vehicles such as delivery vans are included in the government's most ‘at risk' list for sleep related accidents. It is probable that the reason behind this is the fact that such drivers tend to drive for longer distances and at times that are believed to be peak for fatigue related crashes such as early mornings and mid afternoons.
If you are a professional van driver, it is important to manage your lifestyle to ensure that you are fit to drive at all times. Employers of driving staff also have a responsibility to manage the safety of their employees by ensuring that the company working practices, job schedules and routes are both within the legal guidelines and are designed to protect all road users.
We are all aware of the dangers of driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs – Now think above the dangers of fatigue. Have a sleep before you drive, not behind the wheel. For further advice visit the ROSPA web site.
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