1 in 10 Drivers Admit to Nodding Off At the Wheel
Garda Traffic Corp targeting killer behaviour over holiday weekend
Wednesday 8th April 2009. New research released by the Road Safety Authority shows that over 1 in 10 drivers (14%) have admitted to nodding off or falling asleep while driving.
The survey of 800 drivers also found that more than half of Irish drivers (53%) attempt to fight tiredness through ineffective means such as opening windows.
The findings come as the RSA and Topaz launched a year long campaign on Bank Holiday weekends aimed at highlighting the dangers of driver fatigue. For the rest of the year Topaz has undertaken to provide free coffee to drivers on Bank Holiday Fridays at their countrywide network of company owned sites all over the country.
The Driver Reviver campaign will kick off this Easter Bank Holiday weekend with the country’s largest fuels and convenience retailer giving away up to 20,000 free coffees on Friday to help get people to their destinations safely.
The new findings re-enforces international research which suggests that driver fatigue could be a contributory factor in 1 in 5 driver deaths in Ireland*. Therefore, this silent killer may have claimed more than 350 road deaths in the past 5 years.
Noel Brett, Chief Executive of the Road Safety Authority said; “We are delighted that Topaz has joined with us on this Driver Reviver campaign. The company is making a very practical and worthwhile contribution to road safety and I would urge drivers, particularly any who are feeling tired to avail of their offer of free coffee on Friday. As with every bank holiday weekend, there are added risks when using our roads. More people will be taking to the roads, travelling long distances, often without breaks. Scientific studies show that if a driver persists in fighting sleep while driving, the impairment level is the same as driving while over the drink drive limit.”
“To drivers we say; if you are fighting sleep at the wheel, stop immediately. If you can, drink a cup of coffee or caffeine drink but most importantly take a 15 to 20 minute nap. Following the nap stretch your legs and get some fresh air. By following this advice you should be able to drive for another hour or more.”
“Unfortunately, this new research indicates that over half of drivers (53%) respond to feeling sleepy while driving by opening the window, 28% said they stretched their legs and 21% said they turned on the radio. None of these are of help in combating driver fatigue. In fact, these are the people who are most at risk of being involved in a driver fatigue related crash. Never drive if you are fighting sleep or you may never wake up.” continued Mr. Brett.
The Chief Executive of Topaz, Eddie O’Brien said: “We are delighted to support the excellent work of Noel Brett and all his colleagues with this Driver Reviver campaign. All drivers have to do is show their car keys to staff at the 105 company owned Topaz service stations nationwide on Friday 10th April and request a free coffee. Posters advertising the free teas and coffees will be in place outside all participating stations. Everyone at Topaz is delighted to support the RSA, the Gardai and all other state agencies involved in reducing traffic collisions on our roads.”
Commenting on the Garda Road Safety Plan for the Easter Weekend Chief Superintendent Gabriel McIntyre said, “Tragically two lives were lost and six people seriously injured on our roads over the Easter Bank Holiday last year. To prevent further loss of life this bank holiday period members of the Garda Traffic Corps will be out in force targeting all aspects of road traffic enforcement with particular emphasis on speeding, drink and drug driving, non wearing of seatbelts and reckless driving.”
The research, which was conducted by Amarach Research in January 2009 on behalf of the RSA, interviewed over 800 drivers to determine the incidence of long journeys and driving while tired. The research found;
- Of those who have admitted to falling asleep while driving, almost one in four have experienced this twice in the past 12 months.
- Males aged between 35 – 54 are most likely to have admitted to falling asleep at the wheel.
- The average length of journey that led to falling asleep at the wheel was four and a half hours. Almost half of all these incidents (46%) occurred between 9pm and 6am.
- For those who had fallen asleep at the wheel, one in five admitted that they had drifted out of their lane, e.g. on the hard shoulder and across the centre of the road. Luckily, the majority, 76%, startled awake before a more serious outcome occurred.
More information on driver tiredness can be found in the RSA’s booklet ‘Driver Tiredness – The Facts’ and can be downloaded from the RSA website www.rsa.ie. A copy of the RSA’s research on driver fatigue can also be downloaded from www.rsa.ie.
* Professor Jim Horne, Head of the Sleep Research Laboratory, Loughborough University, UK, advising the RSA has said driver fatigue could be a contributory factor in 1 in 5 crashes in Ireland.
Editors Note
What to do if you are a tired driver?
1. NEVER DRIVE IF YOU'RE FIGHTING SLEEP.
2. When you start fighting sleep at the wheel, your impairment is as dangerous as driving over the legal alcohol limit.
3. Stop and take a nap for 15 minutes- (set your mobile phone alarm)
4. To really make the most of your break take a Caffeine drink before the nap (150mg of Caffeine e.g. 2 cups of coffee).
5. After the nap, get some fresh air and stretch your legs.
6. By following all of the above advice you should be able to drive for another hour or more.
For further information please contact
For further information, please contact:
Communications Office, Road Safety Authority – 096 25008 or
Brian Farrell, Communications Manager, Road Safety Authority – 086 3881009 or
Kieran Garry, Gordon MRM 087-2368366