Bosses of tired drivers face jail

Drivers feeling the pressure to safeguard their job or reduce expenses are putting themselves at risk of fatigue, and employers could face prosecution if staff have an accident Norwich Union has warned.

Driver fatigue is responsible for 10% of accidents each year and road accidents relating to sleepiness are more liable to result in death or serious injury as drivers fail to brake prior to impact.

Mike Smith, commercial motor technical manager at Norwich Union, warned against:

• Unrealistic journey schedules
• Long working hours
• Encouraging a long-hours culture
• Non-business critical travel
• Driving when train or other travel options are possible

NU gave an example from 2007 when Michael Eyres, the employee of Atkinson's Kitchens and Bedrooms crashed his van on the M1, having worked a 19-hour day and driven hundreds of miles. It was concluded that while the accident was caused by Eyres falling asleep it was his employer, by encouraging a long-hours culture, who had been negligent by requiring him to drive in such circumstances and doing nothing to guard against the risk.

Smith said: "Although it is difficult to prove conclusively, driver fatigue is recognised as a major cause of collisions, particularly on motorways. Driving whilst tired means reaction times are slower and vigilance, alertness, concentration and the quality of decision-making are severely affected.

"Employers need to be aware that in the event of their driver having a serious accident due to fatigue they might be investigated by the Health and Safety Executive or the Police."