Focus on Falling Asleep at the Wheel
Almost one in five crashes on motorways or other monotonous roads resulting in death or injury are sleep-related.
Sleep-related crashes are most likely to happen:
- On long journeys on monotonous roads, such as motorways
- Between 2am and 6am
- Between 2pm and 4pm (especially after eating, or taking even one alcoholic drink)
- After having less sleep than normal
- After drinking alcohol
- If taking medicines that cause drowsiness
- On journeys home after night shifts.
They are more likely to be serious because the driver is unable to brake or swerve before the impact.
The vast majority of sleep related crashes involve male drivers.
Human beings need to sleep. The longer someone remains awake, the greater the need to sleep and the more difficult it is to resist falling asleep. Sleep will eventually overpower the strongest intentions and efforts to stay awake.
Most of the things that drivers do to fight off sleepiness when driving are ineffective for more than around 10 minutes. They are only useful in an emergency to provide time for the driver to find somewhere safe to stop and rest.
The only measures that have an effect in reducing sleepiness when driving are taking a nap of around 15 minutes and taking at least 150mg of caffeine (at least two cups of strong coffee or equivalent). However, even these measures are no substitute for sleep. And there is some concern that drivers may use these tactics to enable themselves to continue driving when they should really stop.
It is clear that while drivers are aware that they are becoming sleepy, and that this increases their risk of having an accident, many will persevere with their driving, and employ a number of measures to fight off sleepiness.
Drivers need to plan trips to include a rest stop every two hours.
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