Driver tiredness campaign welcomed
Date: 27/03/2008 12:00:00
The government's new campaign to combat the problem of motorists driving while tired has been welcomed.
Launched earlier this week, the campaign urges drivers to pull over for a break once they start yawning and to schedule regular breaks into their journeys.
According to Sainsbury's Car Insurance, more than a third of drivers have admitted to continuing road journeys when feeling tired.
"We're delighted to see the government's new initiative highlighting the dangers associated with driving combined with tiredness," commented Joanne Mallon, manager of Sainsbury's Car Insurance.
Research commissioned by the Department for Transport suggests that just 18 per cent of motorists think to pull over when they begin to yawn, while less than a quarter incorporate pre-planned breaks into their journeys.
New Scientist recently reported a study conducted at the National Central University in Taiwan that found drivers' reaction times get longer after driving continuously for 80 minutes.