Don’t drive while tired!

According to UK-based road safety specialist at GEM Motoring Assists, fleet drivers are among the segment of the population who are most at risk of driving while tired, which exposes fleet drivers to a higher risk of injury or death behind the wheel.

“It is widely accepted that fatigue is a major contributory factor in road crashes, particularly in the early hours of the morning,” said GEM road safety officer Neil Worth. “Many thousands of collisions occur because of a driver’s reduced ability to respond quickly and safely if a dangerous situation arises. Statistics show that those most at risk from a fatigue-related collision include young male drivers, shift workers, truck drivers and company car drivers. Around 85% of drivers who cause fatigue-related crashes are male, and more than one third of these are aged under 32.”

GEM suggests the following to avoid an accident:

• Plan your trip, scheduling 15-minute breaks after every two hours or 160 km of driving;
• Avoid certain medications;
• Avoid any amount of alcohol.