RoSPA Press Office : Press Release

December 22, 2004
PLAN TO BEAT TIREDNESS ON YOUR CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY DRIVE

RoSPA is urging people setting out on long trips to visit friends and relatives over Christmas and the New Year to plan ahead so that they complete their journeys safely.

Fatigue is a major problem to drivers at holiday times if they are spending hours on the road after finishing work or rushing around preparing for the festive season.

Research has shown that on motorways and trunk roads a quarter of all crashes that caused death or serious injury were sleep related.

Kevin Clinton, RoSPA Head of Road Safety, said: “These are the types of road many people will be using over the next fortnight when travelling to see friends and relatives.

“Sensible planning can overcome the danger of having accidents caused by fatigue. Motorists should not set out on a long journey if they are feeling tired, and they should take rest breaks at least every two hours.

“Taking alternative forms of transport, sharing driving, not being on the road in the early hours and making overnight stops are other things that can help.

“If people begin to feel tired while driving it is essential that they take a proper break. Sleep is the only cure for tiredness, but if you start to feel sleepy while at the wheel: find somewhere safe to stop (not the hard shoulder); drink one or two cups of strong coffee or other high caffeine drinks; and take a nap of about 15 minutes.”

To help drivers, RoSPA has produced a Safe Journey Planner, which can be found at www.rospa.com/pdfs/road/safejourney.pdf