AA Ireland has issued an Easter break warning about driver fatigue, writes Brian Byrne.
The organisation says young male drivers will particularly push themselves too hard on a long driving trip.
People setting off on long drives over the coming long weekends should plan their journeys to include a 20 minute break, with coffee or a caffeine drink.
This is particularly important because of the shortage of rest areas on our motorway network, so the planning should include going to off-motorway service areas where necessary.
AA Ireland also suggests sharing driving if there are two drivers in the car; too often this is the case but one person will do all the driving on a journey.
'Micro sleeps' happening to tired drivers can be lethal: three seconds at motorway speeds is 100 metres travelled without concentration on driving.
Symptoms of driver fatigue:
The organisation says young male drivers will particularly push themselves too hard on a long driving trip.
People setting off on long drives over the coming long weekends should plan their journeys to include a 20 minute break, with coffee or a caffeine drink.
This is particularly important because of the shortage of rest areas on our motorway network, so the planning should include going to off-motorway service areas where necessary.
AA Ireland also suggests sharing driving if there are two drivers in the car; too often this is the case but one person will do all the driving on a journey.
'Micro sleeps' happening to tired drivers can be lethal: three seconds at motorway speeds is 100 metres travelled without concentration on driving.
Symptoms of driver fatigue:
· Yawning
· Blinking a lot
· Fighting to keep your eyes open
· Struggling to focus on the road
· Daydreaming
· Rubbing your eyes
· Drifting across lanes
· Struggling to remember the last few kilometres
· Blurred vision
· Sensation of heavy limbs
· Slower reaction times
· Restlessness/boredom
· Falling asleep at the wheel
