We know the feeling too well, when you’re driving and you can feel yourself drifting, struggling to keep your eyes open. Time to stop.

Whether your job requires large amounts of driving or you’re travelling back late from a holiday abroad, you are susceptible to being involved in an accident. Tiredness whilst driving is often ignored, however, it is just as dangerous as driving whilst under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Driving with fatigue can affect you at any time of the day, not just at night time or on long journeys! Sleep-related accidents are common when driving for work, relating to hours driven rather than the time of day.

If you’re driving long distance, keep these tips in mind before you drive.

Take regular breaks

• This is particularly important for those who aren’t used to driving long distances. If your journey is over 3 hours, take a 10-minute break every half hour to reboost

Have a nap

• If you feel sleepy at any point during the journey, that’s a sign to stop. Pull over in a safe, secure place, ensuring that you’re not on the hard shoulder of the motorway
• Also check for parking restrictions before you doze to avoid fines or in some cases, clamps!

Wake up and smell the coffee

• An effective way to reduce your tiredness is to drink a few cups of coffee (caffeinated). Ensure you consume before you drive, giving it time to kick in to your system!
• Try to avoid eating heavy meals before you drive, especially if you’re driving at times when you’d usually sleep
• Energy drinks work just as well too

Plan your journey

• If you’re embarking on a long journey, plan your trip so you can take breaks. It is recommended you shouldn’t drive for more than 8 hours a day and resting will break up the journey too
• By planning your journey and taking breaks into account, you will arrive at your destination safely and on time. You could allow yourself enough time for an overnight stay if necessary to have a full rest before you continue your drive

Don’t drive at all

• If you’re feeling sleepy before your journey, simply do not drive. It’s better to delay your journey and rest, than put yourself and others at risk by fighting your fatigue and causing an accident

The safety of drivers and others is extremely important to us and we promote this throughout our company. If you need to rent a vehicle, put your safety first and get in touch with us!