Minister warns: Driving tired can be fatal

Motorists are being warned not to drive while tired as part of a new campaign to stop deaths on the road.

The new drive, launched by the Scottish Government and Road Safety Scotland, aims to tackle the serious issue of driver fatigue with a clear message for all drivers – Driving Tired Kills.

Fatigue is a contributory factor in crashes which kill or seriously injure around 50 people every year in Scotland.

In 2018, 14 people died on Scotland’s roads due to fatigue, nine per cent of all road deaths, however experts estimate that the real figure is much higher.

Sleep related collisions are around 50 per cent more likely to result in death or serious injury as they tend to be high speed impacts.

Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, Michael Matheson said: “We are committed to achieving safer road travel in Scotland for everyone.

“Driver fatigue is a severe problem that causes too many serious and fatal road collisions each year.

“Drivers should plan their journeys well in advance, ensure they are well rested before setting out and take breaks every two hours.

“It’s simple yet powerful advice which can help save many lives on Scotland’s roads.”

Many of the counter measures drivers use to combat sleepiness behind the wheel, like opening a window or turning up the radio, have been shown to be ineffective.

A two second microsleep at 30 mph can result in complete transition from one lane to another, while drivers are less effective at spotting or reacting to a child stepping out on the road.