Driving While Tired

Driving while tired is something many people have done and continue to do. Unfortunately, driving when you are tired puts you at greater risk of having an accident. As well as having a greater chance of an accident, falling asleep at the wheel leads to more serious accidents, as the driver does not react to slow down or avoid the collision

According to dft.gov.uk:

'Driver sleepiness is estimated to account for around one fifth of accidents on major roads, and is responsible for around 300 deaths per year’.


Statistically, drivers of company cars or trucks and drivers that work long shifts are at greater risk of falling sleep at the wheel while driving than other drivers. But, anyone driving while tired or driving over long distances without suitable breaks is putting themselves and other road users at risk. Even the time of day you drive and the type of roads you are driving on can increase your risk of being involved in fatigue related accidents. The majority of such accidents tend to occur very early in the morning and in the middle of the afternoon. Driving for long distances on monotonous roads such as motorways and dual carriageways can make it easier for you to drop off at the wheel.

It is important to recognise the signs of tiredness in yourself when you are driving and in the driver if you are a passenger so you can take the appropriate measures.

Some of the more common signs of tiredness are:

  • You yawning often or repeatedly
  • Your eyes are heavy and/or sore
  • Your car drifts within the lane or out of the lane
  • Variations in your driving speed
  • Impaired concentration
  • Daydreaming or zoning out
  • Being unable to concentrate on your driving
  • Your reaction times are slower
  • You have difficulty remembering the last few kilometres


There are certain things you can do to help you stay awake and fully alert when you are driving:

You should try to ensure you get sufficient sleep before driving. If you feel tired before you start your journey you should not set off until you are rested.


Try to avoid driving at times when you would normally be asleep. Even if you work shifts regularly you should try to avoid driving for long periods between 12.00am and 8.00am because you are naturally in sleep mode during these hours.


It is best not to start a long drive after a long day's work. You will already be tired from work.


You should plan your journey to include rest breaks every two hours. Each rest break should be for at least 20 minutes.


If you need to sleep, stop either in services, or in a safe place. A powernap of between 20-30 minutes can help, but you must allow enough time to recover after your nap before you continue driving. It is better to sleep sufficiently at the earliest possible opportunity to be fully rested before driving for long periods. Remember: the hard shoulder of the motorway is not a safe place to stop and sleep.