“Just a few more miles.” Have you ever thought this as you feel the first hints of tiredness creeping in… maybe it’s just a yawn or a slow blink?
You’re not alone.
One in eight drivers admit to falling asleep at the wheel while countless more will have rubbed their eyes, opened the window or turned the music volume up in a bid to push back the waves of fatigue.
The next time this happens, though, say to yourself: “It’s time to take a break.”
Driver fatigue related crash figures revealed
There’s no getting around the fact that driver fatigue can be as dangerous as drink or drug driving, as fatigue slows reaction times in a similar way.
It’s estimated that fatigued driving is responsible for up to 20% of all car crashes around the globe and it’s on motorways and dual carriageways where sleep-related accidents are most common.
Close your eyes at 70mph and you could travel 200 metres without knowing it. It reduces awareness and affects decision making, too.
In the UK alone, there were more than 430 people killed or seriously injured and 1,276 collisions linked to tiredness in 2023.
Fatigue related accident laws
Proving that a tired driver was the cause of a crash is not easy.
The lack of skid marks on the road, which indicate harsh braking, or on-board data from black boxes can give police an indication that the driver may have been asleep but it’s not guaranteed evidence unless there’s an eye witness account or the driver admits to it.
“Sleep-alyser” technology is being tested in Australia that could help identify those who are driving without enough sleep. The advanced blood test, which could be ready in five years, would show if a driver was sleep deprived – the similar way to if there was too much alcohol in the system.
For now, though, there’s no firm legislation in the UK for drowsy-driving. But if it’s proven a tired driver killed someone they could be charged with death by dangerous driving or death by careless driving. The maximum penalty is a prison sentence of 14 years.
The rules are stricter for professional drivers. Those who transport goods must maintain logbooks and record hours of work and rest, while many commercial fleets have data recorders installed on their vehicles, which can be used in the event of an accident.
New driving laws proposed to combat driver fatigue in the UK
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is calling for new driving laws to tackle tired driving.
RoSPA is working with the Fatigue Group, a non-profit-organisation led by NHS anaesthetists, that was set up after colleagues were killed while driving home exhausted after working hours.
Although born from the health profession where 90% of doctors say they feel sleep deprived at work, its campaign is targeting the entire workforce, especially physically demanding industries such as haulage or construction.
Potential driving law changes could see roadside checks and a standardised fatigue test, similar to breathalyser tests for alcohol, introduced at the scene of accidents.
It’s also calling for a national registry of drowsy driving incidents to be established and for high-profile public awareness campaigns to target high-risk groups, such as shift workers or those with high stress jobs, to help them with improving workplace fatigue management.
The Fatigue Group wants healthcare organisations to have the same regulations for fatigue risk management as exist for all other safety-critical industries.
How to prevent drowsy driving
RoSPA advises to adhere to the HALT principles – that means not driving if you are Hungry, Angry, Late or Tired.
And if you’re none of those, you still need to take regular breaks. Anyone that begins to feel tired should stop as soon as possible and find somewhere safe to sleep until they’re rested.
While a short 15 minute power nap and two strong coffees might be enough in the short term, this should not be done more than once per journey.
So how can electric cars help improve road safety and reduce fatigue related crashes? In a number of ways actually.
Stopping is not a weakness
Many people (incorrectly) use the inability to complete long-distance road trips without stopping as an excuse for not making the switch to an EV.
How many people don’t stop for a loo break or a coffee anyway? And even if you are one who likes to plough on, it’s not really safe to do so.
The AA advises to take a rest break every two hours to stave off tiredness. On a motorway at 70mph that’s 140 miles – an ideal distance for an electric car considering the average range is now over 200 miles
It means for both yourself and your battery, it’s the perfect time to stop to recharge – your EV via the GRIDSERVE Electric Highway and yourself through some caffeine or a power nap.
Electric cars are less stressful to drive
Although you might not think so, driving can be stressful even if you frequently drive long distances.
The consistent hum of a petrol or diesel engine and the focus required for such a long period of time puts load on your mind (and body), which in turns accelerates the feelings of fatigue.
A study by DS Automobiles revealed that a third of EV owners found their electric cars less stressful than petrol or diesel equivalents. The silent and smooth ride helping to create a more relaxed environment.
Technology can prevent serious and fatal accidents
Electric cars are at the cutting-edge of the car world, which means they’re fitted with the latest gadgets.
This includes technology that can keep you safe on the road, such as adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist and blind spot monitoring. These assistance systems take the strain for you, easing the load on your brain and in turn reducing fatigue.
Electric cars also come with drowsiness monitoring and fatigue alerts. These will sense when you’re starting to show signs of tiredness even if you don’t notice them in yourself. An alert will tell you it’s time to pull over.
