Around half of motorists have driven when tired.
Falling asleep behind the wheel is very serious and can have tragic consequences if it leads to an accident. Drivers are therefore encouraged to take the necessary measures to ensure they never feel so tired that they nod off when on the road – but new figures have shown many drivers in the UK have found themselves in this situation.
According to the findings of the Post Office Car Insurance's Safety on Wheels Report, one in five drivers have admitted to dozing off on the road. This equates to 3.7 million motorists or 19 per cent of the driving population.
What's more, it was shown that men are almost twice as likely to sleep at the wheel than their female counterparts – 25 per
cent compared to 13 per cent.
Falling asleep at high speeds can have obvious consequences, but the report has indicated some people struggle to keep their eyes open even when racing down the motorway. It was shown that 29 per cent of those who admit to dozing at the wheel have done so when driving on motorways – meaning they are failing to give the road their full attention despite hitting speeds of up to 70 mph.
Paul Havenhand, head of insurance at Post Office, said: "When fatigue strikes, drivers should steer clear of the roads. Anything that hinders their ability to concentrate is dangerous and could result in a potentially fatal accident.
"There is no measurement for tired driving unlike driving while under the influence of alcohol, yet it could result in an accident that is just as dangerous."
Mr Havenhand explained individuals who sleep on the road are not only putting their own safety in jeopardy, but also that of fellow road users and pedestrians, adding roads are dangerous enough without people falling asleep at the wheel and losing control of their vehicle.
Tiredness at the wheel is a major cause of accidents on UK roads – yet the report found almost half of those questioned (49 per cent) have set off on their journey when feeling fatigued.
By George Davis