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Millions Of Drivers Admit To Nodding Off At The Wheel
Tue, 19 Jul 2011

One in eight UK motorists has fallen asleep for between two and 30 seconds while driving, according to alarming new research.

A survey of 1,000 drivers carried out by road safety charity Brake and weight management programme Cambridge Weight Plan found that in the past year more than four million people have succumbed to 'head-nodding' or so-called microsleep while at the wheel, often without realising it.

The poll revealed that one in four admitted starting journeys when already feeling sleepy, while the majority (86 per cent) failed to follow best practice advice on dealing with tiredness at the wheel, by stopping somewhere safe for a short nap.

Furthermore, 29 per cent put their own and others’ safety at risk line by continuing their journey despite noticing the first signs of drowsiness.

The survey results also reported that 13 per cent of those polled suffered from apnoea, a health condition that can cause sleepiness during the day, and in extreme cases can cause the sufferer to fall asleep without warning.

Julie Townsend, Brake’s campaigns director, said: "Tiredness at the wheel kills. Driving a vehicle is a huge responsibility that must be taken seriously. That means stopping when we feel drowsy and certainly never starting a journey tired. It’s a matter of life and death."

She added: "We still have widespread misunderstanding of how to prevent driver tiredness, and ignorance about factors like sleep apnoea, a condition that can be treated."

"These messages still need to get through to the public, which is why we are calling for renewed efforts from the Government to tackle this issue urgently."
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