A brand new research by insurance coverage supplier, Chill, reveals 32.1 million UK drivers face four-times the chance of accidents this summer time, as a result of harmful ranges of fatigue.
The research reveals 1 / 4 (25%) admitted to narrowly avoiding a deadly accident as a result of their very own drowsiness. Regardless of this, over a 3rd (35%) plan to skip relaxation stops on summer time highway journeys this yr, even when feeling too exhausted to drive.
It’s estimated that driver fatigue is more likely to account for as much as 20% of all UK car collisions. Nevertheless, half of UK drivers (50%) say they recurrently drive on 5 hours sleep or much less, which Chill reveals may quadruple accident threat as it’s in a state similar to being over the authorized alcohol restrict.
Analysing information from UK drivers, 4 in ten (40%) confess to feeling so drowsy behind the wheel that they risked falling asleep, and over two-fifths (42%) report recurrently feeling exhausted when driving.
Inspecting seasonality and its affect, one in three (30%) state they really feel extra fatigued driving in summer time in comparison with different months. With two in 5 (40%) reporting the warmth itself as a big contributor to drowsiness, and almost 1 / 4 (23%) say dehydration ranges trigger them to really feel extra fatigued while driving in summer time.
Regardless of the information displaying a heightened threat of drowsy driving within the UK, solely 27% say they prioritise napping or resting when driving drained. As an alternative, many admit to resorting to unsafe strategies like opening automotive home windows (46%), enjoying loud music (28%), consuming sugary drinks (17%), and consuming snacks (22%).
Analysing the extra driver challenges the summer time months deliver, over two-fifths of UK drivers (43%) recognized windscreen glare from the solar as a serious distraction, additional compromising their capacity to focus.
The research appears at driver fatigue ranges on a metropolis scale, analysing information from UK cities, revealing the places with the very best variety of drowsy drivers. Topping the checklist is Sheffield the place a staggering 63% of drivers admit to regularly driving whereas fatigued.
Why does summer time improve drowsy driving?
Ian O’Reilly, Head of Private Line Gross sales and Street Security Professional at Chill says: “Whereas fatigue is a year-round menace, a number of components distinctive to summer time make it a major season for drowsy drivers and potential accidents. Sizzling climate disrupts sleep patterns, dehydration zaps power, and solar glare could cause harmful distractions for drivers”.
Ian O’Reilly continues: “To remain secure this summer time, plan journeys for cooler morning hours every time potential. If driving at evening is unavoidable, prioritise breaks each two hours, even for those who really feel okay. Get out of the automotive, stroll round, and splash some cool water in your face. A brief burst of refreshment could make a world of distinction behind the wheel. The Cease, Sip, Sleep technique is accepted as greatest apply, which it is best to confer with earlier than heading off in your journey”.
In line with the research, Sheffield takes the undesirable crown for the drowsiest metropolis within the UK. A staggering 63% of drivers in Sheffield admit to regularly driving whereas fatigued. This fatigue epidemic is additional amplified by the alarming variety of Sheffield drivers (67%) who report getting lower than 5 hours of sleep per evening. These mixed components create a recipe for catastrophe on Sheffield’s roads, with 41% of drivers admitting to feeling so fatigued they almost fell asleep on the wheel – a quantity mirrored in Belfast.
