Reducing fatigue-related road accidents
Fatigue is thought to be the cause of between 10% and 16% of all road accidents, although
as it is difficult to measure, it is impossible to identify the exact figure. It cannot be quantified as
alcohol can, and by its nature drivers do not remember that they were asleep in the seconds before a car
accident.
Fatigue is a particular problem on motorways, and estimates have been made of it causing
20-25% of accidents on these roads. Motorways are unstimulating, with few points of visual interest to keep a
driver’s attention, and drivers are likely to be using them to make longer journeys.
It is estimated that fatigue causes 300 fatalities per year, 3,700 serious injuries, and
over 27,000 slight injuries. Often sleep-related road accidents are more serious because drivers fail to brake
at all or take any evasive manoeuvres before they crash.
Who is most likely to have a fatigue-related road accident?
Studies have found that men are much more likely to have a road accident as a result of fatigue than women
are. 85% of those involved in sleep-related accidents are male, and 19% of male drivers admit to having fallen
asleep at the wheel at least once.
Car drivers make up 67% of people who have accidents as a result of sleep, but lorry
drivers are also thought to make up a significant proportion as they are at higher risk of developing sleep
apnoea. This is a condition present in up to 5% of the population where sleep is interrupted at night, and
sufferers feel fatigued in the day as a result.
People who drive for their work are found to cause around 40% of fatigue-related road
accidents, and this is considered to be because of the long distances they regularly travel, especially on
motorways.
What are the effects of fatigue on drivers?
Being fatigued can cause drivers to have:
- Reduced quality of decision making
- Microsleeps (very short periods of sleep)
These effects can be made worse by alcohol, and drivers that are both fatigued and have
drunk some alcohol greatly increase their risk of having a car accident. Comfortable seats in vehicles have
also been suggested to make already tired drivers more prone to sleep, although they do also help reduce the
rate at which a driver gets fatigued.
How can driver fatigue be prevented or minimised?
These are some suggestions to help motorists prevent becoming fatigued:
- Take a 15 minute break every 2 hours
- Try not to drive at night, when the circadian rhythm of our bodies tells us that it is time to
sleep
- Check all medication before you drive to ensure that it does not have any fatigue-inducing
properties
- Avoid driving after a large meal
- Get a good night’s sleep before a long journey
If a driver starts to feel tired whilst driving, finding a safe place to park and taking
a short nap is the best solution. Please note that the hard shoulder of a motorway is not considered safe,
and motorists must never use it for refreshing themselves because they are fatigued.
Fresh air and turning the radio up can temporarily relieve the signs of fatigue, but not
for long. Drinking caffeine, around 150 mg is recommended, can also help wake the driver up for up to an hour.
Had a road accident caused by a fatigued driver?
If you have been injured in a road accident caused by a driver who was asleep, you may well be entitled to
personal injury compensation.
You can make a claim for up to 3 years after the road accident occurred, and you can claim
financial recompense for the pain and suffering you have experienced, as well as compensation for losses that
your injuries caused (such as loss of earnings, the cost of treatment and prescriptions, and transport costs).
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