Driving Tired As Lethal As Driving Drunk
Up to 20% of fatal crashes may be linked to driver fatigue
Latest research indicates that driver fatigue could be a contributory factor in up to a fifth of driver deaths in Ireland. They also say that driving when very tired is as dangerous as driving while over the drink drive limit.
These disturbing facts were revealed today, Thursday 26th October 2006, at the launch of the Road Safety Authority's (RSA) winter road safety campaign. It also means that this silent killer could have been a contributory factor in almost 200 driver deaths in a recent five year period.
"The people who are most at risk of being involved in a driver fatigue related crash are drivers who try to fight the effects of sleep when driving," explained Noel Brett, Chief Executive Road Safety Authority. "Tactics such as turning up the volume on the radio and opening the window do not work."
"As soon as you realise you are fighting the urge to go to sleep you should stop driving," advised Mr. Brett. "The best way to cope with this problem is to stop driving park in a safe place, drink two cups of coffee and then take a fifteen minute nap."
Caffeine takes between twenty and thirty minutes to enter a person’s system and start working. So, by the time you wake up the caffeine should have taken effect. Following the nap stretch your legs and get some fresh air. You should now be fit to drive for approximately another hour. However in cases of extreme tiredness brought on by sleep deprivation the only cure for a lack of sleep is sleep.
The critical points at which driver fatigue related collisions happen are between 2am – 6 am and mid afternoon between 2pm – 4 pm when our 'circadian rhythm' or body clock is at its lowest point. Males aged 18 to 30 are in the high risk category. They tend to be over confident about their driving ability and believe they can handle the situation. Women are less likely to be involved in sleep related crashes.
If a driver persists in fighting sleep while driving the impairment level is the same as driving while over the drink drive limit. Eventually a driver will drift in and out of consciousness and experience ‘micro sleeps’ which can last for up to 10 seconds. In this time a driver has no control of the vehicle. Drivers can experience such a micro sleep with their eyes wide open.
Driver fatigue not only impairs driving in a similar way to alcohol it also magnifies the damage alcohol does. It is estimated that alcohol is twice as potent mid afternoon and in the early hours of the morning because we are more likely to be tired at these times. Consequently, people who think they are driving under the legal limit should be aware that even small amounts of alcohol consumed at these key times when we are tired combine to render a driver totally unfit for driving.
To highlight the dangers of driver fatigue the RSA has developed a 'point of danger' advertising campaign over the winter months. This includes a 30 second radio advert and poster advertising in forecourt garages that are designed to communicate a safety message to drivers when they are most at risk i.e. when driving.
The radio campaign features a testimonial from the brother of a driver who died after falling asleep while driving. Charlie Mitchell's brother Francis died on the 23rd July 2006 after falling asleep at the wheel a mere 50 metres from home. His message is simple 'My brother Fran was stone cold sober when he was killed. It was 1.30am and he fell asleep at the wheel. Fran's injuries were horrific in a split second everything changed.'
ENDS
For further information please contact; Brian Farrell, Communications Manager, Road Safety Authority 086 3881009
Or
Gerard Kenny, Carr Communications, 087 2488393
Professor Jim Horne, Head of the Sleep Research Laboratory, Loughborough University, UK, advising the NSC said driver fatigue could be a factor in 1 in 5 crashes in Ireland.
The European Transport Safety Council (ETSC) state that driver fatigue is conservatively estimated to be a factor in about 20% of road crashes in Europe.
