The greatest risk of falling asleep at the wheel is between midnight-6am and 2-4pm.
It can affect any driver, but people who drive as part of their job may be more at risk. About 40% of sleep related crashes are work-related.
Research commissioned by the Government found that falling asleep at the wheel accounts for one in ten of all crashes on Britain's roads.
If you fall asleep at the wheel you are 50% more likely to die or suffer serious injury because a sleeping driver does not react before a crash.
Fatigue and the Body
Driving between midnight and 6am presents a particular risk for sleep-related crashes as this is when your 'body clock' is in a natural trough. There is another, smaller trough between about 2pm and 4pm.
All sleepy drivers are aware of their tiredness, particularly when they reach the stage of 'fighting sleep' (i.e. doing things to keep themselves awake, such as winding down the window). You don't fall asleep without warning!
Opening the window for cold air or turning up the radio are of very limited benefit and sufficient only to find a safe place for a break.
Reaction time devices are of little practical use in detecting driver tiredness. By the time they work a driver is already well on the way to falling asleep.
Tips for drivers
Plan your journey to include a 15 minute break every two hours of driving.
If you start to feel sleepy find a safe place to stop (not the hard shoulder of a motorway) as soon as possible
Drinking 2 cups of coffee or other high caffeine drink and having a rest to allow time for the caffeine to kick in are effective methods of combating tiredness.
Avoid making long trips between midnight- 6am and 2-4pm when natural alertness is low.
