54 per cent of motorists in Galway admit to often driving while fatigued, according to a new study by Irish insurance broker, Chill. It also reveals that drivers face a heightened risk of accidents this summer due to fatigue.
Of the 2,000 respondents to the nationwide survey, 34 per cent admitted to narrowly avoiding an accident due to their own drowsiness. Despite this, 36 per cent plan to skip rest stops on summer road trips this year, even when feeling too tired to drive.
An Garda Síochána estimate that driver fatigue is a contributory factor in as many as one in five fatal crashes in Ireland every year.
Analysing data from Irish drivers, 45 per cent confess to feeling so drowsy behind the wheel that they risked falling asleep, and 57 per cent report regularly feeling exhausted when driving.
Examining seasonality and its impact, 34 per cent state they feel more fatigued driving in summer compared to other months. Over 43 per cent reported the heat itself as a significant contributor to drowsiness, and 25 per cent say dehydration levels cause them to feel more fatigued whilst driving in summer.
Despite the data showing a heightened risk of drowsy driving in Ireland, only 34 per cent say they prioritise napping or resting when driving tired. Instead, many admit to resorting to unsafe methods like opening car windows (60% ), playing loud music (42% ), consuming sugary drinks (49% ), and even talking on the phone (14% ).
Analysing the additional driver challenges the summer months bring, 54 per cent of Irish drivers identified windscreen glare from the sun as a major distraction, further compromising their ability to focus.
The study looks at driver fatigue levels on a city scale, analysing data from people who live closest to and in Irish cities, revealing the locations with the highest number of drowsy drivers. Topping the list is Waterford, where an alarming 54 per cent of drivers confessed to feeling so drowsy behind the wheel that they risked falling asleep.
Cork, Dublin, Galway, and Limerick follow suit. All four cities report alarming numbers of drivers at risk of falling asleep at the wheel (ranging from 41% to 48% ) and often experiencing fatigue while driving (between 50% and 58% ).
39 per cent of Galway drivers say they only get up to five hours of sleep per night, while 29 per cent admit they've almost been in a road accident due to fatigue.
