Think! 'Make time for a break' this Bank Holiday weekend

The THINK! road safety campaign is alerting drivers who are making long journeys this Bank Holiday weekend to make sure they plan their journeys carefully and always 'Make Time for a Break'.

It is estimated that over 300 people are killed each year in sleep related crashes. In the run up to the August bank holiday, when thousands of people take to their cars for a summer getaway or to visit family and friends, hard-hitting radio adverts will highlight the risks of driving tired.

The Department has also linked with organisations that are supporting the campaign to deliver and reinforce the driver tiredness messages to drivers at key times throughout their journey.

Road Safety Minister Stephen Ladyman said: "As the Bank Holiday approaches we want drivers to plan their journeys carefully and make time for a break every two hours. Drivers need to remember that taking a short break really can make the difference between life and death."

To avoid the dangers of driving tired the DfT recommends:

* Plan your journey to include a 15 minute break every two hours of driving;
* Don't start your journey tired. Be aware of the risks if you have to get up unusually early to start your trip, or have a long drive home after a full day's work;
* If you start to feel sleepy find a safe place to stop (not the hard shoulder of a motorway) as soon as possible;
* An effective method to combating driver sleepiness is to drink 2 cups of coffee or other high caffeine drink and to have a rest for 10-15 minutes to allow time for the caffeine to kick in;
* Opening the window or turning up the radio does little to prevent a driver from falling asleep at the wheel.