Fatigue is a serious road safety concern at all times of year, but recent research has found that deaths and serious injuries related to fatigue increase significantly in the summer.
The research, conducted by National Highways, found that deaths and serious injuries where driver fatigue was a factor have increased by 59% in the summer months over recent years.
Interestingly, 29% of drivers admitted they don’t factor rest stops into their journey, while just 39% say they’d take a break due to tiredness.
Most drivers admit they’d rather continue their journey than take a break if they feel tired, which is a serious concern when it comes to road safety.
There are many reasons why incidents relating to fatigue might increase in the summer, with one of the main ones being that people are taking more journeys and more longer journeys as they head off on holiday.
As fleet drivers will know all too well, National Highways is urging drivers to remember the importance of taking a 15-minute break for every two hours spent behind the wheel.
Many drivers opt for distractions too, with 38% opening the window for fresh air to keep them awake, 29% listening to music and 27% eating snacks to give them an energy boost and stave off tiredness.
But fatigue is one of the largest contributing factors to road traffic incidents, which is why National Highways are highlighting the issue ahead of the busy summer period.
In total, fatigue is a factor in 10% of all deaths and serious injuries on motorways and A roads during the summer and managing risk is a key concern for all fleets…
