Driver fatigue

Driving while tired is dangerous and can lead to serious accidents. If you feel sleepy at the wheel, you must act quickly to stay safe. This page explains the warning signs, what to do if you feel tired and how to plan your journey to reduce the risk.

Know the warning signs

You will usually notice when you are becoming tired. Common signs include:

• difficulty keeping your eyes open
• yawning or poor concentration
• missing road signs or exits
• drifting within your lane

Do not ignore these signs. Simple tricks the radio only work for a short time.

What to do if you feel sleepy

If you start to feel tired while driving:

• do not try to continue your journey
• stop somewhere safe, not on the hard shoulder
• drink a strong caffeinated drink
• rest or take a short nap for around 15 minutes

This may help for a short time, but the only real cure for tiredness is sleep. If needed, plan to stop overnight.

Plan your journey

Planning ahead can help you stay alert:

• take a break of at least 15 minutes every two hours
• plan rest stops before you set off
• avoid driving between 2am and 6am, and 2pm and 4pm
• share the driving if possible
• get a full night’s sleep before long trips

Avoid alcohol before driving, including the night before. Check medication labels for side effects that may cause drowsiness.

Why this matters

Tiredness affects your reaction time, focus and decision making. Accidents caused by fatigue are often serious because drivers may not brake or react in time.

Fatigue‑related crashes are more likely on long journeys, after night shifts or during times when your body naturally feels less alert.

More information is available from RoSPA which provided the information for this page.