Avoiding tired driving

Why tired driving is a fleet issue – and what operators can do about it

Driving takes full concentration, all of the time. You never know what’s round the next bend, so every driver needs to be alert, focused, and ready to react.

That’s hard to do when you’re exhausted. And for commercial drivers, who often work long hours and early starts, tiredness is a real and serious risk.

The numbers are hard to ignore

Research from IAM RoadSmart in 2021 found that one in ten commercial drivers admitted to briefly closing their eyes because they were so tired behind the wheel. Another one in ten had been jolted awake by the rumble strip, and four in ten had turned the heating down or opened a window to try to stay awake.

Road safety charity Brake has found that tiredness is a major factor in road crashes, with around 40% of sleep-related crashes involving commercial vehicles.

Why tiredness is so dangerous

You’ll have seen the motorway signs: “Tiredness can kill – take a break.” They’re usually placed a couple of miles before a service area, so drivers have somewhere safe to stop.

The reason they matter is simple. When a driver nods off, they can’t brake or steer to avoid a collision, so crashes caused by tiredness tend to happen at high speed. And even before falling asleep, a tired driver’s reactions slow down significantly.

According to the DVLA’s “Tiredness can kill” guidance, sleep-related crashes may account for up to a fifth of accidents on major roads. Our natural body clock makes things worse at certain times – especially between midnight and 6am, and between 2pm and 4pm.

Drivers’ hours rules exist for a reason

For HGV drivers and operator licence holders, the drivers’ hours rules aren’t optional, and not knowing them isn’t an excuse. Under the rules:

• Drivers can’t drive for more than 56 hours in a week

• Drivers must take at least 45 minutes of breaks after 4.5 hours of driving, unless they start a rest period

Breaking the rules can lead to fines and, in serious cases, prosecution. The DVSA can look back through months of tachograph records for drivers’ hours offences, and there’s no time limit at all for investigating falsified records.

But the most important reason to follow the rules isn’t avoiding a fine. It’s making sure drivers are safe. Employers have a duty of care to give drivers proper rest – and the consequences of getting it wrong can be devastating.

Tired driving is distracted driving

Distracted driving is anything that takes a driver’s attention away from the road. It usually falls into three types:

• Manual – taking a hand off the wheel, for example to eat or drink.

• Visual – looking away from the road, at a phone or sat nav.

• Cognitive – when the mind wanders: a phone call (even hands-free), stress, daydreaming or tiredness.

Tiredness is one of the hardest to spot, because the driver often doesn’t realise how affected they are.

The law doesn’t accept tiredness as an excuse

The DVLA is clear – falling asleep at the wheel is no excuse in law. If a tired driver causes a serious crash, they can face prosecution for dangerous driving, a driving ban and, where someone is killed, a lengthy prison sentence.

For fleet operators, there’s a business cost too. Tired, distracted driving is linked to harsh braking and speeding – which means more fuel, more wear and tear, and more chance of a breakdown.

Simple steps that make a difference

• Plan routes and schedules with proper breaks built in.

• Encourage drivers to stop as soon as they feel tired – and make sure they know they won’t be penalised for it.

• Avoid scheduling long drives during the body’s natural low points where you can.

• Use telematics to spot patterns like harsh braking that might point to fatigue.

And if something does go wrong

We’ll be there. With over 400 specialist vehicles and a control room that never sleeps, we’ll get the right help to your driver quickly, helping keep them and your vehicle safe and get you back on the move as soon as possible.

Looking for support with your fleet? Get in touch – we’ll be right there.