Drivers 'falling asleep' behind the wheel

Posted :11-06-2007

Almost one in ten (eight per cent) of drivers admit to have fallen asleep while on the road, a new survey has found.

Research by car insurance provider esure.com also discovered 28 per cent of people to have had a "micro-sleep" - when they cannot remember certain parts of the journey - at the wheel.

And although motorists said they used various methods to stay alert and keep themselves awake while driving, the insurer is reiterating advice to take adequate breaks and not drive when tired, as this has the potential to be highly dangerous.

"Never start a long journey tired, always take plenty of breaks, and get a good night's sleep before turning on the ignition," urged Mike Pickard, head of risk and underwriting at esure.com.

"No-one should have to resort to extreme measures - such as slapping themselves across the face - to stay awake behind the wheel."


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