A new Government campaign has been launched which is primarily
aimed at those who drive for work.
The campaign will remind motorists of the dangers of driving
when tired, following statistics that one in give of all crashes on
major roads are caused by tired drivers. Research has
shown that many motorists ignore the simplest sign - the yawn
- which the campaign says is when there is the need for a
break.
Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick said: "We all want to
finish our journeys as quickly as possible but being tired at the
wheel is a proven killer that we cannot ignore. People who drive
for work are particularly at risk but there are simple steps we can
all take to make our journeys safer. Plan regular stops into a long
trip and if you find yourself yawning pull over and take a break -
this could make the difference between life and death".
POLL
A recent poll of British drivers showed that only 18% of
motorists take a yawn as a sign to pull over.
Dr Neil Stanley, a sleep expert from the Norfolk & Norwich
University Hospital, said: "People read a yawn all wrong - they
often mistake the energising effect that comes immediately after as
a sign they can carry on, but tests prove this is not the case.
Yawning quite simply means you're on the road to falling asleep -
so if you're yawning behind the wheel it really is time to pull
over".
Out of the 1,500 motorists polled, only 22% always plan breaks
in their car journeys, while 26% admit to having driven for up to
or more than 4 hours without a break.
The poll also showed that:
- 4% have driven for more than 7 hours without a break
- 54% at least occasionally try to beat their journey time
on a trip they've done before
- three-quarters open a window to keep themselves awake on
a long journey, while 4% shake their head vigorously and 3% slap
their face.
ADVICE
The THINK! campaign's advice is:
- Don't start a long trip if you're already tired
- Plan your journey to include a 15 minute break
every 2 hours
- If you feel drowsy find a safe place to stop (not the
hard shoulder)
- As an emergency measure, drink two cups of coffee or a
high-caffeine drink and have a rest for 10-15 minutes to allow time
for the caffeine to kick in
The new THINK! campaign includes a radio advert, online
advertising on journey planning websites, partnership marketing and
messaging at service station washrooms, forecourts and petrol
pumps. The campaign has been primarily targeted at people who drive
for work as research shows they are at particular risk.
For further information on driving when tired please visit the
THINK! campaign website at: www.dft.gov.uk/think