A Lot Of Irish Drivers Have Experienced Nodding Off At The Wheel

Too many people have taken these risks.

48% of Irish drivers have admitted to driving on less than five hours of sleep, a survey has found.

The survey also found that 11% of Irish drivers report to drive on less than five hours of sleep at least a couple of times a week, and 3% claim to be doing it every day.

The study, carried out by RED C for Liberty Insurance revealed that GAA supporters were extremely likely to drive with very little sleep, with almost 52% of GAA supporters saying they have driven on less than five hours sleep in the match.

Alarmingly 3% of drivers (rising to 10% in Dublin) reported that they had fallen asleep while driving.

The research also found that when tired 88% of drivers use various coping strategies with only 14% of drivers letting someone else take over the driving.

• 47% of drivers roll down the windows when tired
• 45% drink coffee
• 7% of drivers admitted that they had experienced nodding off at the wheel.

Some quick and helpful tips to avoid driver fatigue:

Plan the route in advance and for longer journeys, take note of rest areas where you can take a break, have a coffee and stretch your legs.

Make sure you’re well rested, try to get a good night’s sleep before your journey.

Avoid driving alone on long-distance trips. Passengers can both share in the driving and participate in conversation, which can help you stay awake.

Stay Hydrated before and during your journey.

Allow yourself ample time to reach your destination so you can take advisably frequent breaks. Try to stop about every two hours, or every 150kms.

Make a point of getting out of the car and walking at least a short distance, where it is safe to do so.

Driving for long periods at night makes fatigue much more likely. By avoiding travelling during these hours, you escape the glaring dashboard and road lights.

Deirdre Ashe, speaking on behalf of Liberty Insurance, said:

“The GAA Hurling and Camogie Finals are an exciting time of year; however, it’s important that supporters don’t let that excitement keep them up the night before so they’re well-rested en-route to the Finals. Getting a good night’s sleep is one of the most important things a driver can do to ensure they get to the match safely.”

Stay safe, guys.

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