1 in 4 British Columbians admit to nodding off while driving, ICBC says
According to a recent Ipsos survey commissioned by ICBC, 52 per cent of B.C. drivers admitted they had gotten behind the wheel while tired or drowsy in the past year. Moreover, 24 per cent said they had nodded off while driving.
At the same time, 81 per cent of respondents said fatigued driving has a serious or very serious impact on road safety.
'It's alarming that so many drivers on our roads have been tired enough that they've nodded off or fallen asleep,' said ICBC road safety manager Kathleen Nadalin, in a news release accompanying the data.
'Consider how you feel before getting behind the wheel. If you're tired to begin with, you shouldn't be driving. If you're feeling rested, keep in mind that hot summer weather can be draining, especially on long drives, so plan to take a break every two hours to keep your energy levels up and switch drivers if you can.'
According to ICBC, an average of 513 people are killed or injured in crashes that involve tired drivers every year.
Moreover, 71 per cent more people are injured or killed in fatigue-related crashes in July and August compared to other months, ICBC said, citing police data.
'Fatigue slows your reaction time and when driving at highway speeds, even a slight reduction can significantly increase your risk of crashing,' Nadalin continued. 'If you notice any signs of fatigue like not remembering the last few minutes of driving, struggling to stay focused or blurred vision, the safest choice is to pull over when safe and take a nap.'
Other signs of driver fatigue include finding it difficult to stay in your lane, speed creeping up and down, yawning or daydreaming, and heavy eyes.
To prevent driver fatigue, ICBC, of course, recommends getting a good night's sleep, considering how you're feeling before driving, and avoiding driving at times when you're normally sleeping.
Methodology: The online survey was conducted between June 16 and 19, and had 646 respondents matching the criteria of having a valid B.C. driver's licence and reported driving at least a few times a year. The data was weighted using census data.
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