With more Brits having staycations this year following travel restrictions caused by coronavirus, motorists are being urged to prioritise their safety on motorways.
Road safety and breakdown cover specialist GEM Motoring Assist is encouraging drivers to focus on two key areas of motorway driving – leaving enough space from the vehicle in front and understanding the dangers of fatigue.
GEM chief executive Neil Worth said: “Motorways may be the fastest roads we use, but they are statistically also the safest; and there are fewer collisions on motorways than on other roads.”
According to the Highway Code, motorists would need 76 meters to come to a total stop from 70mph. GEM suggest motorists familiarise themselves with the two-second rule. This is where a driver uses a marker like a road sign or a bridge to count two seconds between the car in front passing it, before you do to ensure there’s enough space between yourself and the car in front.
He continued: “Falling asleep at the wheel is easily avoided, but it’s vital you heed the many warning signs your body will give you before you actually nod off. After all, no one simply falls asleep without passing through various recognisable stages of tiredness and distraction.
“A fatigue-related crash was around 50 per cent more likely to result in death or serious injury, simply because a driver who has fallen asleep at the wheel would be unable to reduce speed or change direction to avoid a collision. The consequences can be devastating.”
The advice is to take a 15-minute break every two hours or 100 miles, and once you’ve stopped get out of the car, stretch your legs, and grab a caffeine drink, which will help with your alertness.
He concluded: “You will know when fatigue is affecting you. It doesn’t just take you by surprise. So resist the urge to press on, and take a proper break.”
