Employers could face crippling financial penalties or even jail sentences if they do not wake up to the dangers of tiredness among company car drivers, according to UK health and safety experts Croner.

The advice to employers follows the release of new figures showing that falling asleep at the wheel is the cause of around 20% of accidents on long journeys on major roads and motorways.

The study, by the RAC Foundation and www.companycardriver.co.uk, revealed that 10% of company car drivers admitted to having previously fallen asleep at the wheel.

Night time driving is the greatest period of danger with many admitting that they had dozed off behind the wheel between midnight and 6am.
And the problem can only get worse, suggests Croner as the UK’s long working hours culture sees more people tired and driving later into the evening on increasingly busy roads.

Trevor Davies, health and safety officer at Croner, says: “Employers shouldn’t be fooled that they are only responsible for employees driving company cars, as safety law covers any vehicle which is used for work purposes.

“We are alerting employers to ensure that their staff fully understand the rules over work driving before they get behind the wheel on company business.”