Motorists warned of the dangers of driver sleepiness

A road safety group has warned motorists to get plenty of sleep before they take to the car for long journeys this summer to avoid serious accidents.Roadsafe said that driver sleepiness is thought to be responsible for 300 road deaths a year in the UK. The Department for Transport also estimates that it causes up to 20% of accidents on major roads.The added that drivers setting off in the early hours and on monotonous roads are at high risk of microsleeps. These short sleeps last only two to 30 seconds and although many people do not realise they have experienced them, that's all the time needed to have a crash.Tactics to stay awake, such as listening to music and opening the window, have no affect on alertness. Drinking two cups of coffee and taking a 20 minute nap can have some benefit, but once driving again the dangerous level of sleepiness will soon return, and repeating the process will not have the same effect.RoadSafe’s director, Adrian Walsh, said: “Many people don’t realise they are at risk of falling asleep at the wheel. It can happen to any of us at any age. Just one night’s disturbed sleep can cause extreme short-term tiredness, resulting in a moment’s lapse in concentration.”Five tips to stave off sleepiness:• Have a goodnight’s sleep before setting out on a long journey.• Plan journeys to include a 15 minute break every two hours of driving – and make sure you take them.• Share the driving if possible.• Avoid making long trips between midnight and 6am, and 2 to 4pm when natural alertness is low.• If yawning begins, stop in a safe place as soon as possible (not the hard shoulder of a motorway). Proper sleep is needed but a good counter measure is to drink two cups of strong coffee or a high caffeine drink and nap for 20 minutes.

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