Just thought a little poll was needed.

Local radio is blurbing on about driving exhausted is worse than driving under the influence of drink. They're pointing out in particular tourists who might hardly ever make a journey of around 6 hours, and the importance of breaks on journies to tourist-y type areas like around me.

So, what do you think then. My poll is based on being SERIOUSLY tired, talking about the type of scenario when your blinks become a second or two long, where you stare straight ahead and stop looking in the mirrors.... Been there and had to wake myself up sharpish and dive into a services for a nap. :thumbdwn:

So, let the comments begin. Don't want to start any drink & drive shenanigans, but instead an honest comparison of reaction ability and general safety. Assume for the drink, the driver is a 6 foot man of say 14 stone, who hasn't eaten properly for 4 or 5 hours.... if that helps. (also assume drink-driver is "awake" as can be, done no long driving, etc)

Ah! bugger! Just realised I should have included an "0 pints" option for those who feel any amount of drink makes you more dangerous than an exhausted driver. Can a mod add this for me please?

Thanks.

There was a show on tele (Brainiac?!) that carried out this experiment in a controlled environment and tested people's manouvring, stopping and reactions skills. Basically I think the results were that both drinking or being tired were pretty dangerous, but I think a couple of drinks actually improved some people's driving. I forget whether it was a sliding scale after that.....

Chris

Probably a question of which is least worse, rather than better.

Either situation is very dangerous, despite the fact we've all driven tired.

No pints option added.

both are bad, TBH if you are not sensible enough to not drink and drive or not to stop when you are really tired then you both should be banned from driving IMHO, they both kill people and oftenly enough not the ones who are at fault.

I seem to remember one of the early fifth gears on Channel 5 doing some tests on this. They found that mildly-intoxicated people had sloppy and exagerated reactions but could still drive as they were aware of the surrounding and attempted to compensate. The tired people kept dozing off for a second not realising what happened.

The tiredness problem is worse if your not stimulated. Driving late at night up the M6 in the dark with hardly any traffic is boring as hell. I've found my eye's suddenly feeling heavy and had to get off at the next services/exit and get a quick kip and some strong coffee before I can continue on the odd occaision.

Tiredness is more scary as you can't control it occurs - Alcohol is usually self-inflicted!

I have big problems with sleep and I often have to drive tired. I've had to pull over onto the hard shoulder so many times it's not funny. I know its dangerous but how else do I get about? If you ever look in my car you will always see water, red bull and pro plus. I'm kinda dreading Trax as its such a distance and the queues won't help. I'll be asleep in the boot or under my car if anyone wants me.

I know there were program/s on about this before, but I can't remember. I find it hard to believe that someone this tired can be considered less dangerous than someone who has had a swift pint after work before the 1/2 mile drive home for tea. :confused: I can't condone drink driving at all, but 1 pint is within the legal limit and yet can be considered more dangerous than someone who is seconds away from nodding off at the wheel and drive into the bank/central reservation and perhaps kill himself/family/other road users? Its my opinion only, but I can't fathom this out.

I believe 5th gear did this test with Mr Wilson and Tiff and they did say that sleeping tired is as bad if not worse than being drunk

Ah! bugger! Just realised I should have included an "0 pints" option for those who feel any amount of drink makes you more dangerous than an exhausted driver. Can a mod add this for me please?

Thanks.

Does the no pints option make any sense ?

the question is:

'An exhausted driver is more dangerous on the road than a man who has drank .........'

Sureley everyone will agree that an exhausted driver is more dangerous than someone sober (no pints) ??

Thats what Id choose anyway ?

i think they are both really bad tbh, drink driving is obvious to everyone 'sensible' and driving tired should be treated the same way as it effects everything about the driver like drink does, reaction time, concentration etc etc etc

I was thinking the same thing after I voted, no pint and not tired would be a safer driver than someone who is tired or someone who is drunk

Sure I read somewhere that if you'd missed a nights sleep and then drove the following night, it was the equivalent in terms of reactions to having half a bottle of scotch.

The other thing to consider is 1 pint may be enough to make someone drunk, as alcohol has different effects on different people even though 1 pint is below the legal limit you coyuld still be suffering the effects of drinking, it is a minefield.

The other thing to consider is 1 pint may be enough to make someone drunk, as alcohol has different effects on different people even though 1 pint is below the legal limit you coyuld still be suffering the effects of drinking, it is a minefield.

Which is why I tried to set a "level" by saying a 14 stone 6 foot bloke. Should think 1 pint for someone of that build wouldn't affect their judgement to the degree of someone about to nod off.... :eek:

I never drink if i'm going to be driving.

BUt I have driven while tired. I was fully conscious, but stopped processing what my eyes saw.

A boy-racer crossed the central white line, but though I saw him, I just didn't react.....until te very last second. Left rubber on th road I hit the brakes that hard. Thankfully, no one behind me.

Not a proud moment at all.Hand cuff me and take me away now....

i know when sometimes im not fully awake in the mornings i tend to be very clumbsy, i try to stand and end up staggering across the bedroom and falling over :(

Ive driven when very tired. I drove all the way in an artic from Poland to Wigan at 55mph to get home for Xmas. (without stopping) (it was a few years ago and I burnt the tachograph officer) How I made it I don't know. You just do it when you are younger. If i feel tired now, i just stop for a kip. I'd rather be late than leave my daughter with no dad. Mind you, I live above the shop, so not much danger of falling asleep on the way to work.

Which is why I tried to set a "level" by saying a 14 stone 6 foot bloke. Should think 1 pint for someone of that build wouldn't affect their judgement to the degree of someone about to nod off.... :eek:

There are too many other factors - for example, if he had 1 pint on an empty stomach, then his blood/alcohol level will me significantly higher than if he'd drunk the pint with a big meal

Chris

Again, I dont understand why everyone is not voting for 0 pints ??!!!

Of course a sober, wide awake person will be safer than a tired driver.

:confused:

Then you get the situation with people like me who work shifts. Had a lie in today till a about 9:30, start my night shift tonight at 18:00, finish in the morning at 6:00, drive home wont be getting to bed until about 7:00 -7:30. That

In I most definitely think it's worse to drive seriously tired out than under the influence. I almost killed myself once...now I pull over and sleep a while if I'm extremely tired.

I think a lot of it comes down to age and how you care. I'm young, couldn't give a monkeys about things at the mo. But I'll stilll have my proplus and water/red bull. If I had children, I'd be more careful. I think all my long journeys are behind me know, things have changed in my life in the last few days and now my car will be used to go to and from work now. I can't fall asleep in 2 miles, surely.

The M40 was (literally) a killer when it first opened, 90 miles or so without any service stations and almost no lighting. The police at the time were saying that at least one vehicle a day ran off the side of it due to the driver being asleep. I used to do London to Manchester runs and would get along here as fast as possible to get it over with.

If i feel tired now i pull into services and sleep, i find i stop noticing other vehicles have slowed down and end up having to brake really hard.