Dead tired or dead drunk? Fatigue kills - Dozy drivers: the statistics

The Department for Transport estimates that 300 people a year are killed because a driver falls asleep at the wheel. That's some way shy of the 540 killed by drunk drivers in 2006,
but still a worrying total.

Most of us would never dream of driving home after several pints, but not all of us take the dangers of driving while tired so seriously. Research by the AA suggests 63% of British drivers are not taking effective breaks on long journeys.

What's more, in a whatcar.com survey, 40% said they had nodded off at the wheel, and 22% that it had happened more than once.