We all know drink and drugs are two of the biggest killers on British roads but did you know that 20% of accidents are actually related to tiredness with the peak times being in the early hours and after lunch.
Check out these shocking stats here.
So what can we do to help with tiredness and driving?
* As a driver you should always plan your journey with adequate rest breaks, we recommend at least a 15 minute break every 2 hours.
* Stay hydrated to maintain alertness
* If you begin to feel tired or drowsy open a window to allow better ventilation, turn the heater down and even turn the radio up louder
It is worth mentioning that the methods advised above are reactive solutions to the problem and will only work for short relief. A proactive approach would be to avoid driving when tired altogether. For further information on driving whilst tired follow this link.
Large goods vehicles and drivers that drive for work purposes are required to use tachographs that monitor their driving length and aim to prevent fatigue behind the wheel.
Q: What are Tachographs?
A: They are digital monitors that track driving time and rest periods to ensure drivers aren’t on the roads for long periods and in turn promote driver & road safety.
Q: Why are they important?
A: Surprisignly 40% of sleep related accidents involve commercial vehicles with men under 30 being most at risk of falling asleep.
Q: What laws are there on this?
A: If you drive a goods vehicle or a passenger-carrying vehicle you must follow the rules on how many hours you can drive and the breaks that you need to take.
There are 3 sets of rules that could apply to your journey:
EU rules
AETR rules
GB domestic rules
The rules that apply depend on the type of vehicle you’re driving and which country you’re driving in. For full details and to see if you are required to use a tachometer take a look at the DVSA site here. https://www.gov.uk/drivers-hours/overview
https://www.gov.uk/tachographs/overview
To read more, click here.
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