Monday, September 6 2010
Swinton Commercial reveals that one out of five van drivers have hit the roads in a tired state.
Van insurance comparison site from The Van Insurer
A survey of 1200 van insurance customer has shown that 21 per cent of van drivers confessed that sleep deprivation and working long hours resulted in them climbing behind the wheel of a van feeling tired.
One out of five van operators confessed to operating a van while tired last month and only one fourth of drivers said that they took a regular break when making a long trip. As a general rule, it is advised to take a break every two to three hours when taking a long trip.
These latest numbers come out as Brake, the road safety charity is starting a new campaign that is known as Wake Up UK!, whose purpose is to highlight the perils of driving while tired. Brake says that tired divers behind the steering wheel are the cause of at least one in ten deadly crashes on roads in the United Kingdom and this number increases to one in five on motorways.
Swinton provides the following tips for van drivers:
Plan trips in advance and provide for ample rest stops, which ideally should be taken every two to three hours on a long trip.
Get a good night’s sleep, or get plenty of sleep in daytime if you work at night.
When taking a break, take as long as you need to feel adequately rested.
Do not ever drive tired, Brake’s research reveals that tired drivers find it impossible to keep from nodding off at the wheel.