RSA campaign to urge drivers to avoid 'silent killer' of driver fatigue
As many as one in five driver deaths could be caused by tiredness, it was claimed today.
The Road Safety Authority is launching a new campaign today, urging sleepy drivers to pull over, have a coffee and a 15-minute nap before continuing their journey.
The launch comes ahead of the August Bank Holiday weekend, which is traditionally a busy time on the roads.
RSA spokesman Brian Farrell said that driver fatigue needs to be recognised as a cause of crashes.
"It's also the silent killer, he said.
"We're not very aware of it, we don't take it as seriously as speeding or drink driving
"But what we don't realise is that it probably is more serious in terms of the consequences, because if you fall asleep at the wheel, there's nobody there to take evasive action and fatigue-related collisions do tend to end in more serious or fatal consequences."
