More than 1,200 fatigue-related collisions were recorded in 2023, resulting in over 430 deaths or serious injuries.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has partnered with the Fatigue Group to tackle the growing issue of drowsy driving.

Their campaign, launched ahead of World Sleep Day on March 14, aims to educate employers and workers about the dangers of fatigue and promote strategies to reduce its risks.

Not seeing the growing crisis

Driver fatigue is a significant yet underreported factor in road collisions, impairing reaction times and decision-making similar to alcohol or drug intoxication.

According to RoSPA, exhaustion behind the wheel can be just as deadly as drunk driving, yet it lacks the same level of public awareness and preventative measures.

The issue is especially prevalent among shift workers, healthcare professionals, and those in physically demanding industries like haulage and construction.

A Medical Defence Union (MDU) survey in the UK revealed that 90% of doctors feel sleep-deprived at work, and alarming research shows that 57% of medical trainees and 45% of consultants have experienced an accident or near-miss while driving post-shift.

JP Lomas of the Fatigue Group, a non-profit organisation led by NHS anaesthetists, shared the devastating impact of fatigue in the medical community: “We have personally lost colleagues who fell asleep at the wheel after long shifts. Although not every journey ends in tragedy, too many workers feel pressured to drive when exhausted. The ‘hero culture’ of pushing through tiredness must be replaced with a ‘safety culture’ where proper rest is prioritised.”

Responsibilities and policy

RoSPA is urging businesses to take fatigue management seriously by implementing structured rest breaks, reviewing shift patterns, and ensuring workers have access to rest areas.

They emphasise that employer responsibility extends beyond traditional high-risk sectors.

Office employees working long hours can also suffer from exhaustion, increasing the likelihood of accidents on their commute.

Caitlin Taylor, RoSPA’s road safety manager, called for urgent action: “Fatigue slows reaction times, reduces awareness, and affects decision-making—putting everyone at risk. We are calling on employers, policymakers, and the Government to act now by improving workplace fatigue management, investing in public awareness campaigns, and collecting better data on fatigue-related crashes. No one should lose their life due to preventable driver fatigue.”

Beyond workplace initiatives, RoSPA is also advocating for stronger governmental policies, including:

  • Fatigue testing at crash scenes – Introducing standardised fatigue assessments, similar to breathalyser tests for alcohol, to determine whether drowsiness played a role in an accident.
  • A national fatigue registry – Tracking drowsy driving incidents to better understand and address the issue.
  • Public awareness campaigns – Targeting shift workers and other high-risk groups to highlight the dangers of fatigue.

Practical steps

RoSPA and the Fatigue Group advise drivers to be proactive in managing fatigue.

Their recommendations include the HALT principle, which discourages driving when Hungry, Angry, Late, or Tired.

For those who begin to feel drowsy while driving, they recommend pulling over to a safe location, consuming two strong coffees, and taking a 15-minute nap before continuing.

However, they stress that this is only a temporary solution and should not replace proper rest.

As RoSPA and the Fatigue Group continue their fight against drowsy driving, their message remains clear: fatigue is a life-threatening risk that demands immediate attention. Getting enough rest isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity that could save lives.