Within two years, drivers could see the rollout of blood tests, which would allow the police to determine if a person was involved in an accident and if fatigue played a role. According to road safety charity Brake, a person driving when they are tired can be as dangerous as drink-driving.
Around 10 to 20 percent of all crashes are estimated to be caused by driver fatigue, with a staggering one in eight people admitting to falling asleep when at the wheel.
Motorists are 20 times more likely to fall asleep at the wheel at 6am than they are at 10pm, with fatigue playing a role in about four percent of fatal road crashes.
The research, which was funded by the Australian Government’s Office of Road Safety, found that driving on less than five hours of sleep can be as dangerous as being over the drink-drive limit.
It is believed that the new research could provide a “line in the sand” which could see people prosecuted for driving when sleepy, the Guardian reported.
READ MORE: 2030 vehicle ban may be ‘as simple’ as swapping cars for electric
Louise Thomas, car insurance expert at Confused.com, said: “There are lots of reasons why drivers might feel tired behind the wheel.
“For instance, those who spend most of their working day on the road, or those taking unusually long trips. But taking steps to reduce the risk of driving while tired can help make the roads safer for all road users.
“And the introduction of potential roadside blood tests are also a positive step towards achieving this.”
Many sleep experts and road safety charities have long called for blood tests to be introduced to firmly establish a limit for how tired a driver can be before going on the road.
The data found that the blood tests can detect whether someone has been awake for 24 hours or more with greater than 99 percent accuracy.
Further work can be done to determine how long the person had actually slept for, with the markers of the test showing the hours they could have slept for, such as two or five hours.
A spokesperson for the Department for Transport said: “Drivers have a responsibility to ensure they are awake and alert on the road and should seek rest when feeling tired.
“The Government is not considering this type of testing, but we always note new ideas to make our roads safer.”
READ MORE: Drivers can save £25,000 on new EV with grant scheme extension
Portable roadside tests could also be an option for drivers, although the results would naturally take longer.
Louise Thomas added: “When driving, doing things like keeping the temperature cool in the car or keeping hydrated can really help.
“But if you’re tired, it’s always recommended to take regular breaks or to pull over in a safe place and rest.
“Choosing to drive when tired can have serious consequences. Not only can drivers find it harder to focus, but it’s likely they’ll have slower reaction times and the possibility of falling asleep behind the wheel.
“If caught, drivers could be convicted for driving without due care and attention, facing fines of £100 and three points on their licence.”
Many factors can contribute to driver tiredness and increase the risk of being involved in a fatigue-related accident.
This can include a lack of sleep or disturbed sleep, stress, driving for long periods and irregular sleep patterns.
Even the type of vehicle can have an impact. Modern vehicles are usually comfortable and have a smoother ride, which can lull motorists into being more sleepy.
