Motorists have owned up to taking the wheel while feeling “dangerously tired” – with some even dozing off during their journey. A poll of 2,000 drivers unearthed that a shocking 86 per cent have driven when exhausted at one time or another.
Alarmingly, nearly one in 10 admitted to a close call caused by fatigued driving. In fact, 41 per cent have continued driving to their destination despite recognising their drowsy state. The survey was initiated by insurance giant Allianz, which also spearheaded a study revealing that fatigue can double a driver’s chances of being unsafe on the road.
The study found that sleepy drivers doubled their mistakes in basic driving abilities compared to those who were well-rested, with significant drops in reaction times, precision, control, and overall alertness. Drivers were assessed on emergency braking, parallel parking and navigating an actual road circuit as part of two distinct test groups.
Commenting on the findings, Caroline Johnson from Allianz said: “We want our roads to be as safe as possible for all motorists and our claims data and test results clearly demonstrate that driving tired puts your family, friends and road users at significant risk.”
She added: “With many students and their parents likely to be getting in the car and heading off to universities up and down the country, we want to highlight the risks and hope our experiment shows just how dangerous it can be. If you’re planning an early morning or late drive, try to get some extra rest, as this can make a big difference and the risks are simply too great. Road safety begins with responsible driving, and that means knowing when to rest and prioritise adequate sleep.”
The favoured approaches for staying alert behind the wheel include opening the window (60%), cranking up music volume (30%), guzzling strong coffee (26%), or belting out a song to a familiar album (23%). Yet, while many confess to doing it themselves, half of those surveyed agree that tired drivers should face the same level of seriousness as those intoxicated by alcohol or drugs.
Additionally, 79% reckon it poses a greater risk than speeding, as per the statistics from OnePoll.com. Renowned driving safety virtuoso for some of the nations top car manufacturers, Paul Ripley, shared his expertise: “Driving when you’re tired isn’t just about feeling a little sluggish – it seriously affects your ability to react, make decisions, and control your vehicle safely. Our experiment shows a lack of sleep can make you a danger on the road.”
Top 10 ways motorists stay awake:
- Open the window to let some cold air in
- Crank up the volume of the music
- Drank a strong coffee
- Put on an album or song they knew they’d want to sing along to
- Turned the air conditioning to its coldest
- Drank an energy drink
- Asked other passengers to keep conversation going
- Talked to themselves
- Opened a snack
- Slapped themselves on the face