22 April 2002: More fatal accidents are caused by drivers falling asleep at the wheel than by drink-driving, according to the Sleep Research Centre at Loughborough University in the UK.

Researchers believe that one in 10 road accidents have a link to drowsy drivers, and one in five accidents on motorways and trunk roads are the result of vehicle operators succumbing to exhaustion.

Nearly one in five male drivers in a survey admitted to having fallen asleep at the wheel. Though the 2am-6am period of the night is the most risky, there’s also a strong risk between 2pm-4pm, when many people fall into a ‘trough’ of poor concentration.

Effective advice ranges from a 15-minute break every two hours to taking a high-energy drink. But the safest thing is never to drive when tired. A 20-minute nap in a safe place (never the hard shoulder!) is recommended when a driver realises he or she is trired, but no longer than that.

©2002irishcar.com