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Driving whilst tired could increase motor insurance costs

Tue, 11 Apr 2006

Motorists who drive whilst tired could be risking increased Motor Insurance premiums and putting other road users at risk.

Research by the RAC discovered that 46 per cent of those involved in a new survey admitted to driving whilst feeling drowsy, whilst 34 per cent felt they had been close to falling asleep whilst behind the wheel of their car.

The survey, which involved 1,000 motorists, found that men aged between 35 and 64 were the most likely to drive whilst feeling tired. Eleven per cent of motorists also admitted that they had on occasion driven more than 500 miles without stopping to take a break.

RAC road safety consultant Robin Cummins said that the increasing comfort of modern cars could be encouraging many drivers to continue their journey even though it is time for a break.

"It's crucial that we take the time to plan breaks and recognise when our bodies need a rest, to ensure we are capable of staying alert and able to concentrate to ultimately protect both our own, and other people's, safety," he said.

Government figures suggest that tired drivers were the main cause of more than 20,000 road accidents last year, boosting claims on Motor Insurance policies and increasing the risk of fatalities on UK roads.


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