Company car drivers are being targeted in a new campaign aimed at raising awareness of the problem of driving while tired.
The road safety charity Brake and insurer Direct Line have joined forces to raise awareness of the issue, which is said to account for one in five fatal accidents in the UK.
Research from the two shows that nearly 75% of drivers admit to driving while tired - a massive rise compared to the 46% of drivers who said they did in a survey six years ago.
According to the Brake/Direct Line survey of 800 drivers, 29% of those questioned admit splashing water on their face when taking a rest in the hope it will wake them up, while 73% ignore safety guidance and drive for three hours or more in a single stint.
They have also issued advice to drivers to help reduce the instances of tired driving, including:
- Planning your journey to include time for breaks.
- Taking a minimum 15-minute rest every two hours.
- Pulling over and having a nap as soon as you feel tired.
- Not relying on coffee or energy drinks to keep you going.
For more details, go to http://www.brake.org.uk/