The Dangers of Driving Tired - November 2010

This regularly updated section of the HomeApproved web site will cover the latest trends, research, opinion and developments in the UK car insurance sector. 

The Dangers of Driving Tired
Previously published research has shown that a staggering 17% of road crashes resulting in injury or death were sleep related. In addition - One quarter of all road crashes that caused death or serious injury were sleep related. Young drivers out partying or night clubbing take note - driving home in the middle of the night - can prove extremely dangerous.

The DfT continues to spend a lot of money on promoting the message 'Think! Don't Drive Tired'. The Department for Transport estimates that approximately 300 people a year are killed and many more seriously injured where a driver has fallen asleep at the wheel.

A Driving requires a high level of concentration and perception. These skills are greatly reduced however when you are drowsy. Your judgement is impaired and reaction times are dramatically slowed, meaning you are less likely to react to potentially dangerous situations.

According to road safety group Brake, nearly 50% of all motorists have admitted to have driven after getting less than 5 hours sleep. The bottom line is that if you risk getting behind the wheel not having had enough sleep you risk killing yourself and other road users!