Roadchef Partners With Brake
One in three drivers compromises road safety when driving in the dark while tired.
The clocks go back; the day get shorter and the roads get more dangerous - that's according to new research which shows that one in three motorists (32%) admit to compromising the safety of themselves or other whilst driving in the dark, tired.
Now that daylight savings time has ended and will remain until 29 March 2020, we have teamed up with road safety charity Brake to raise awareness of the dangers of driving in the dark. Several factors, including lack of visibility, tiredness and adverse weather conditions during autumn and winter can all increase the risk of collisions.
Government statistics show that 34% of road-related injuries for car and motorbike users happened between 6pm and 6am, despite far fewer cars on the road during this time. This suggests that darker hours are more dangerous, with research suggesting that the peak times for fatigue and tiredness related crashes fall within the hours of darkness.
Staying alert on the motorway
Motorways have the highest average traffic flow of any roads, with 817,000 vehicles for every mile of motorway per day, and yet 42% of surveyed motorists claim they do not stop for a break on long journeys.
When asked what keeps motorists alert on the roads, over half (51%) said that having the windows down kept them focused, while 45% said loud music and 40% reported that using aircon helps. Roadchef and Brake have voiced concerns that these methods are not proven to work and if tiredness kicks in then it is important to stop and rest, including having a nap, as soon as possible. As nights get longer, Brake and Roadchef are reminding motorists that taking regular rest stops can be a life saving measure.
Mark Fox, CEO of Roadchef said:
"We take our mission to make Britain's roads safer and happier seriously. Driving in the dark can be dangerous and tiredness can kill, which is why it's so important for motorway service areas to provide an environment where motorists are able to relax and then continue their journeys safely, especially when travelling long distances through the winter months"
Samuel Nahk, senior affairs officer for Brake, said:
"As the nights get longer, it is vital that drivers are fully aware of the dangers of driving in the dark, and that driving tired can be fatal. There are, however, steps that drivers can take to reduce the risk of being involved in a car crash if they must drive at night. This includes ensuring they are well rested before setting off, planning their journeys in advance, and not setting off in a car if they are tired or expect to become tired during the journey. Taking regular breaks is also essential and we advise all drivers to take a break of at least 15 minutes every two hours. If you feel tired, you should pull over somewhere safe and have a nap because continuing to drive tired can have devastating consequences."