Grey nomads who commonly drive long distances on unfamiliar roads are constantly being urged to make sure they get enough rest and drive ‘fresh’ … and there’s a good reason why.
In the United States, for example, about 20% of all motor vehicle crashes are apparently caused by tired drivers. And a new Australian study has cast further light on to how much the risk of accidents increases when drivers don’t get enough sleep.
Researchers surveyed 20,000 drivers aged between 17 and 24 years about their sleep habits over an 18-month period, and then used police records to see which drivers were in an accident over the next two years.
The results, just published in JAMA Pediatrics, show some 9% of the 2,156 drivers who got less than six hours of sleep ended up in a crash, compared to about 7% of the 17,171 who slept more than six hours. However, those who reported less than six hours of sleep also had other traits that may have increased their risk of a crash, such as driving more.
Nonetheless, after crunching the numbers, researchers concluded that young drivers who got less than six hours of sleep were at a 21% increased risk of a crash.
Most of these accidents occurred between 8pm to 6am.
Although doctors recommend between seven to nine hours of sleep to remain healthy, it is estimated that nearly 30% of adults get less than six hours each day.
Grey nomads who often drive long distances with large rigs on unfamiliar roads are, of course, susceptible to the same drowsy driving dangers as youngsters … and are therefire constantly targeted by ‘rest, revive and survive’ campaigns.
How much sleep do you get a night? Have you ever felt your concentration fading as exhaustion kicked in? How do you make sure you don’t ‘drive drowsy’? Comment below.
As a young bloke on the 9-hour drive on the old Pacific Hwy from Lismore to Sydney, I chewed Minties like they were going out of style. But in reality, there are no substitutes for a good night’s sleep and regular 2-hour breaks on long drives.
This sign should be sitting on the desk of every Council in Australia….Particularly Qld? NSW Might make their Rangers think.