Beware of tired drivers during World Cup – AA Accident Assist

Up to 25% of all fatal and serious vehicle collisions could be fatigue related

Tips to combat drowsy driving

Depending on route to the final, Scotland could have three kick-offs past midnight, England two

“Drowsy driving is an underestimated risk on our roads” warns AA Accident Assist MD

With the World Cup kicking off tomorrow (Thursday 11 June), The AA’s Accident Assist service is concerned that the UK could see an increase of drowsy driving collisions during the early hours of the day after key Home Nation fixtures.

Due to the difference in time zones between hosts USA, Canada and Mexico compared to the UK, means that many fixtures for both England and Scotland will start late in the evening and finish in the early hours.

Drowsy driving can be as bad as drink driving

To put tired driving into perspective, a driver who’s been awake for 24 hours may have an impairment equivalent to a blood alcohol concentration of 0.10% – over the drink driving limit. Similar to the effects of alcohol, tiredness can impact reaction times, decision-making abilities and vigilance, making you an objectively worse driver and a danger to yourself and others on the road. Research by the AA Charitable Trust and ROSPA estimates that up to 25% of all fatal and serious vehicle collisions could be fatigue related.

What should I do if I start feeling tired when driving?

When feeling tired behind the wheel, some drivers believe that winding down the window to let in fresh air or turning the radio up will help stave off sleep, but these aren’t effective ways at combatting tiredness. These are classic signs of tiredness, and means drivers need to stop and take a break.

AA Accident Assist's top tips to combat drowsy driving

• At the first sign of tiredness, stop and take a break

• Stop in a safe place – don’t stop on a motorway hard shoulder

• Drink two cups of coffee or an equivalent caffeinated drink

• Take a short nap of around 15-20 minutes

Late night or early start for Scotland

For Scotland’s opening fixture against Haiti won’t kick off until 02.30 on Sunday 14 June, with their remaining group games starting at 23.00 meaning they’ll end the day after they kicked off.

Depending on their route to the final, Scotland could play several games kicking off after midnight. Should they finish third and be placed into Match Slot 79, their Round of 32 game would be 02.00 on Wednesday 1 July, followed by a 01.00 kick off time in the Round of 16 five days later (Monday 6 July).

Fans will need to decide if they plan to power through the evening and stay up late, or head to bed and aim to wake up just before kick-off.

Not so bad for England

The route to the final is not so draining for England fans, however third place finish in Group L would mean a 02.30 start on Saturday 4 July for the Round of 32 fixture, and if successful a 02.00 kick-off on Sunday 12 July should they reach the quarter final.

If England win their group, fans will only have to endure one game running into the early hours, with their Round of 16 fixture due to start at 01.00 on Monday 6 July.

Late licenses for pubs, school runs and rush hour traffic

In an effort to support the hospitality and pub industry, the government has allowed pubs and bars the opportunity to extend their licenses during the World Cup. At the same time, many fans will watch games with their family and friends, meaning there could be an increase risk of collisions in the early hours of the morning as supporters drive home to bed.

There could also be a risk of drowsy drivers on the road the morning after many games, as fans stay up late to watch as many games as possible to find out who they may be playing in future rounds. This could be particularly dangerous if drivers combine late nights with the school run and rush hour traffic.

AA Accident Assist is encouraging drivers to get as much sleep as possible and where possible, delay driving to ensure they are fully rested before getting behind the wheel. A previous campaign by The AA Charitable Trust found that a quarter (26%) of drivers say they have driven tired due to a lack of sleep.

Tim Rankin, managing director of AA Accident Assist, said; “While fans are dreaming about the prospect of their team lifting the cup, it could soon become a personal nightmare if they crash due to a lack of sleep.

“Drowsy driving is an underestimated risk on our roads, and we encourage drivers watching the World Cup to get as much sleep as possible before getting behind the wheel. Driving is a skill that needs full attention, and battling through tiredness won't keep drivers alert. Recognising the signs of drowsiness, pulling over and taking a nap can make a huge difference in keeping our roads safe.

“The fixture list looks to be worse for Scotland when looking at late nights, but all drivers need to be prepared to rearrange their day to ensure they can driver properly.”