Driving Tired: How to Minimise the Risks
According to studies carried out by road safety experts “THINK!”, 20% of accidents on major roads are sleep related – meaning that here in the UK we are driving tired now more than ever.
So why is this? Are we working longer and commuting further? Are our social lives taking us further afield? Whatever the reason is, driving tired can be costly to you and others.
Here’s our advice on how to minimise the risks
1. If you know you have a long drive ahead of you, plan your journey with safe places to stop. For every 2 hours of driving, you should schedule a 15 – 20 minute break.
2. If you’re driving on the motorway, don’t stop on the hard shoulder, find the next service station and have a break.
3. Drinking caffeine can help you become more alert, it usually takes around 20 minutes to kick in, so stop off somewhere safe and relax for a bit.
4. Avoid heavy meals before and during journeys.
5. Completely avoid alcohol before a journey – even the smallest amount can make you feel more tired and affect your judgement.
6. If you are planning a long journey it’s always good to have a passenger in the car with you. This can help keep you alert whilst also sharing the driving (just make sure they are insured).
If you have any advice or tips on how to minimise the risks on driving tired, get in touch with us below. For more information about THINK! – the road safety experts click here
Happy driving.
