New research has determined that a shocking four million British drivers have fallen at the wheel at some point…
Asleep at the Wheel
A survey of 1,000 drivers, conducted by the road charity IAM Roadsmart, discovered that one in ten of the respondents have temporarily fallen asleep at the wheel. Half of them were also concerned about experiencing fatigue whilst behind the wheel during long journeys. One in ten have hit the rumble due to drifting off and four in ten have had to turn down heating or open windows in order to stay awake.
Just a quarter of the respondents said that, when feeling tired, they pulled over for a break or caffeine; meaning that most would simply choose to press on, putting themselves and other road-users at significant risk.
‘Devastating’ Risks
IAM Roadsmart has sought to emphasise the ‘devastating’ risks that entail falling asleep at the wheel; even for just a few seconds. For instance, a car will travel 100 feet a second when moving at a speed of 70mph. It’s emphasised the need to plan long journeys in terms of available resting spots; especially due to coronavirus, which has caused some facilities to close. It also stressed that drivers should take a break after every two hours of driving; being extra vigilant when driving at night or when the driver would typically be asleep.
Neil Greig, director of policy and research at IAM Roadsmart, stated that drivers should be concentrating on the road – not keeping their eyes open. He said, “concentrate on staying alert behind the wheel rather than staving off tiredness by trying to reach their end destination without adequate rest breaks”. Naturally, the survey poses serious questions for businesses and fleets in terms of duty of care. Drivers need to be instructed to take regular breaks. A collision caused by a sleepy employee can have serious legal consequences for the employer, too.
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