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MOTORISTS WARNED OF THE RISKS OF DROPPING OFF AT THE WHEEL THIS EASTER
10 April 2006 - Green Flag
With 13m motorists expected to hit the roads this Easter new researchreveals that many are still ignoring advice on driving tired and riskfalling asleep at the wheel.
In fact, nearly one-in-ten (8.6 per cent) per cent of motorists admit at
some time to have fallen momentarily asleep while driving, according to new
research by Green Flag Motoring Assistance. More than half (58 per cent) of the 1,000 motorists surveyed said they had
driven aware that they felt ''very tired''. Men were the worst culprits with
two-thirds (64 per cent) owning up to driving while fatigued. Some 40 per cent of motorists expect to travel more then 200 miles over the
Easter period with one-in-four likely to be driving for an exhausting two
hours or more. Early-birds (39 per cent) aim to beat the Bank Holiday traffic by setting
off between 6-9am, during a period that experts have identified as the
times when a person''s body clock is naturally set to sleep mode. The
Department for Transport (DFT) advises motorists that driving between
midnight and 6am and between 2-4pm present the greatest risks. Green Flag also found that the most popular method for drivers to stay
awake was to open the window, while half favoured listening to loud music.
The government''s THINK! campaign recommends motorists to stop and take a
break at the first signs of tiredness and not to battle against fatigue.. Nigel Charlesworth, spokesperson for Green Flag said: ''No matter how well
you''ve planned your trip, it''s absolutely vital that you never set-off if
you''re tired. Put it off until you''ve had plenty of sleep. ''Be aware of when you start to feel tired. You''ll know when your body wants
to sleep, as you''ll try to fight it by opening the window for cold air or
turning up the radio. It''s a fight you can''t win. So, find a safe place to
rest.'' Research shows that motorists are 50 per cent more likely to die or suffer
serious injury if they fall asleep at the wheel because they can''t react
before the accident. Falling asleep at the wheel accounts for an estimated 300 deaths a year, up
to 20 per cent of crashes on motorways or similar roads, and as many as
one-in-ten of all crashes on Britain''s roads. Green Flag''s study of 1,031 motorists coincides with a campaign launched by
the Department for Transport (DFT) targeting drivers who may be tempted to
drive while fatigued or those motorists who seldom take breaks. Nigel Charlesworth concluded: ''We recommend people who are travelling long
distances this Easter to plan breaks at least every two hours in their
journey. It''s also a good idea to boost energy levels by drinking coffee or
energy drinks.'' Green Flag has linked up with Road Chef to offer motorists a free pot of
coffee when they buy a Danish pastry from any OnRoute or Restbite
restaurant. To download a free voucher, visit www.greenflag.com. Tips for drivers on avoiding tiredness
· Plan your journey to include a 15-minute break every two hours of
driving
· Drink two cups of coffee or other high caffeine drink and have a rest
to allow time for the caffeine to kick in to combat tiredness.
· Have a good night''s sleep before setting out on a long journey.
· Remember the risks if you have to get up unusually early to start
your trip, or have a long drive home after a full day''s work.
· Avoid making long trips between midnight- 6am and 2-4pm when natural
alertness is low.
· Share the driving if possible.
· If you start to feel sleepy, find a safe place to stop (not the hard
shoulder of a motorway) as soon as possible.
· Opening the window or turning up the radio does little to prevent a
driver from falling asleep at the wheel.
www.greenflag.com
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