One in ten have fallen asleep at the wheel
Posted: April 25, 2013
Posted in: Road Traffic Accidents
One in ten UK drivers admit that they have fallen asleep at the wheel of their vehicle and a further one in four say that they have felt drowsy enough to fall asleep whilst driving, according to a new survey by insurer, Allianz Your Cover.
Despite more than half of the people surveyed agreeing that a driver is a danger to themselves and to others if they continue driving whilst feeling drowsy, only one third of drivers said they would stop and take a break when they began to feel tired.
A shocking 15% of 18 – 24 year olds admitted that they have had an accident as a result of being very tired or drowsy behind the wheel, compared to 2% of 45 – 54 year olds.
“This research has highlighted a widely under-recognised cause of road fatalities, and the links between the stressful 24/7 lifestyle that we have become accustomed to and driver fatigue,” said Dr Irshaad Ebrahim, medical director at The London Sleep Centre.
“The demands placed on time, both occupational and social, seem to have led to an increase in sleep disorders, which in turn leads to excessive sleepiness with potentially fatal consequences,” he warned.
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