Press release -
zzzzzoned out: 3.7 million drivers admit dozing off behind the wheel
- Men are almost twice as likely to nod off while driving than women
- Almost a third of drivers who have fallen asleep did so while on a motorway
- Half of drivers admit to driving while tired and not concentrating
One in five drivers (3.7 million drivers or 19 per cent1) admit to dozing off behind the wheel – with men almost twice as likely (25 per cent) than women (13 per cent), reveals Post Office Car Insurance’s Safety on Wheels Report2.
Furthermore, almost half (49 per cent) of UK drivers admit to driving while tired and not concentrating. One in seven (15 per cent) drivers take to the road despite feeling tired as regularly as once a week, meaning UK’s cars are increasingly manned by those half-asleep. Driving when tired can have severe consequences; 30 per cent of drivers have experienced some form of incident because of a lapse in concentration, from missing a pedestrian crossing through to hitting another vehicle.
Shockingly, three in 10 (29 per cent) drivers who have nodded off were on a motorway at the time and could be driving towards danger at speeds of up to 70 miles per hour. A further quarter (24 per cent) have fallen asleep while on a dual carriageway. Never mind risking a clipped wing-mirror or minor scrape, these drivers are breaking the law by driving without due care or attention and pose a huge risk to all those around them3.
Anxiety seems to play a large part in tired driving, with a third (36 per cent) eager to reach their end destination and just over one in five (22 per cent) assuming it is acceptable to ignore feelings of fatigue if they are just making a short journey. Familiar routes are seen as easier to navigate, and a fifth (19 per cent) will simply fight the urge to snooze and carry on without a rest because they are close to home.
Paul Havenhand, Head of Insurance at Post Office, said: “When fatigue strikes, drivers should steer clear of the roads. Anything that hinders their ability to concentrate is dangerous and could result in a potentially fatal accident. There is no measurement for tired driving unlike driving while under the influence of alcohol, yet it could result in an accident that is just as dangerous. Drivers who are so tired they fall asleep while on the roads pose a serious risk to themselves and other road users. Roads can be hazardous enough as it is, without drivers putting themselves or others at risk by setting out when their concentration has been impaired”
When tiredness strikes, drivers resort to a range of energy-boosting measures; 27 per cent opt for a caffeine-fix and buy a cup of coffee, while 17 per cent will pull over somewhere safe until they feel alert again. One in seven (13 per cent) will swap the wheel with someone else in the car, while worryingly, one in sixteen (six per cent) will simply ignore feeling tired and carry on driving.
Drivers are advised to take a fifteen minute break from driving every two hours4, yet just one in three (31 per cent) adhere to this. Almost one in five (18 per cent) will drive for longer than four hours without a break, and four per cent will carry on for as long as six hours.
Paul Havenhand continued: “No matter how important or familiar a journey might seem, it is never worth starting out unless you are fully alert. Accidents can happen just metres from your home and so it is crucial to always have your wits about you. Sometimes it can be tempting to forge on ahead with a planned journey, but no matter how important a commitment it should never override the priority people place upon their safety.
“Drivers should ensure they plan ahead and rest before embarking on a long journey as well as taking regular breaks to recharge their batteries. In some circumstances, if they really do feel too tired to concentrate on the roads, they may want to consider an alternative method of transport. A momentary lapse in concentration might result in a scrape, or worse an accident, that could otherwise have been avoided.”
Tips for staying alert while on the road
- Plan ahead – make sure you plot regular breaks ideally aiming to stop every two hours or so. If you feel at all tired, stop in a safe place, remembering both personal and traffic risk
- Try to avoid setting out on a long journey when you are tired – where possible make sure you are well-rested before you start
- If you are travelling with a passenger who is insured to drive the car, take it in turns to drive
- If you do have a long journey ahead of you, try to stagger it; plan an overnight stop, or significant break in between to ensure you are alert for your trip
- Don't drive for more than 8 hours in a day. Take regular fifteen minute breaks in journeys over two hours. This is more important if you're not used to driving long distances.
Post Office Limited has an unrivalled national network of over 11,500 branches across the UK, more than all the high street banks combined, and sits at the heart of many communities across the country. The Post Office has made a commitment to no more branch closure programmes. It provides around 170 different services and products spanning financial services including savings, insurance, loans, mortgages and credit cards. Post Office also offers Government services; telephony; foreign currency; travel insurance and mail services.
It serves around 20 million customers a week and half of all small businesses. 93% of the total population live within one mile of a post office and 99.7% within three miles. For many rural communities the post office is the only retail outlet. Post offices remain highly valued and trusted and are the focal point for many communities. For more information, visitwww.postoffice.co.uk
1148 (number of drivers who have fallen asleep) divided by total sample size (2001) = 0.07396 of the UK population has fallen asleep while driving. This multiplied by the UK population 50,371,000= 3,725,439
2Opinium Research carried out an online survey of 2001 adults between 20-23 September 2013. The sample contained 1,556 respondents with a full UK driving licence who have been referred to as “drivers”.
3The Road Traffic Act of 1988 cites driving without due care or attention as a criminal offence. The definition of ‘due care or attention’ consists of driving in way that falls below what would normally be expected of a careful and competent driver
4The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents quotes advice from the Highway Code (Rule 91) which advises drivers to take regular breaks while on the road
Contact - Carmel McCarthy
Categories
About the Post Office
The Post Office (Post Office Limited) has an unrivalled national network of over 11,500 branches across the UK, more than all the high street banks combined, and sits at the heart of communities in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. The Post Office has made a commitment to maintaining its network of branches at its current size and reach. It provides around 170 different products and services spanning financial services including savings, insurance, loans, mortgages and credit cards; Government services; telephony; foreign currency; travel insurance and mail services.
The Post Office serves over 17 million customers a week and a third of small businesses. Some 99.7% of the total population live within three miles of a post office and over 97% live with one mile of a post office. For many rural communities, the post office is the only retail outlet. Post Offices branches remain highly valued and trusted, and are the focal point of many communities. For more information, visit http://www.postoffice.co.uk/.
Please note the Press Office team can only deal with enquiries from the media. Unfortunately they do not have access to customer information so can not help with customer enquiries.
If you have an enquiry regarding any Post Office product or service please visit postoffice.co.uk or call 0845Local call rates apply. Call costs may vary depending on your service provider. Calls may be monitored or recorded for training and compliance purposes. 611 2970.
