MILLIONS of motorists admit they’ve driven when ‘dangerously tired’ – and have even nodded off.
A poll of 2,000 motorists found a whopping 86% have been in control of a vehicle while tired at some point.
Nearly one in 10 have had a near-crash due to getting behind the wheel when exhausted.
And 41% admit they’ve powered on to their destination despite feeling heavy-eyed.
The research was commissioned by insurance firm Allianz, which also conducted a scientific study which found motorists are twice as likely to drive unsafely when tired.
Weary drivers made double the number of mistakes on everyday driving skills than those who were well-rested, with reaction times, precision, control and overall awareness all deteriorating.
Two groups of drivers were tested on a variety of driving skills, including emergency braking, parallel parking and a real-world road course.
Caroline Johnson from Allianz said: “We want our roads to be as safe as possible for all motorists and our claims data and test results clearly demonstrate that driving tired puts your family, friends and road users at significant risk.
“If you’re planning an early morning or late drive, try to get some extra rest, as this can make a big difference and the risks are simply too great.
“Road safety begins with responsible driving, and that means knowing when to rest and prioritise adequate sleep.”
The most popular methods to keep awake while driving are opening the window, cranking up the volume of their music, drinking a strong coffee or singing along to an album or song they know.
Despite many admitting they do it themselves, 50% agreed people driving tired should be treated just as seriously as those driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
A further 79% believe it is more dangerous than speeding, according to the OnePoll.com figures.
Multi award-winning driving safety expert for some of the UK’s leading car brands, Paul Ripley, added: “Driving when you’re tired isn’t just about feeling a little sluggish – it seriously affects your ability to react, make decisions, and control your vehicle safely.
“Our experiment shows a lack of sleep can make you a danger on the road.”
A FUGITIVE “gangster mother” has been caught after 16 months on the run over a secret cocaine gang operating at her countryside farm.
Farmer’s wife Lynne Leyson, 52, led a hidden double-life as the “godmother” of a crime gang – with her respectable front of being a normal rural mum on the family farm.
But she fled before being jailed for nine years – and her “Most Wanted” mugshot has been issued to all UK police forces along with a false name she maying be using.
A £1,000 bounty was offered after she was on the run for more than a year believed to go under a string of aliases after skipping bail.
But police today revealed she was arrested to be put behind bars after being spotted in the farm in quiet Capel Dewi, Carmarthenshire, where she based her crime ring.
Police said Leyson was arrested at Pibwr Farm on Monday having returned to the force area on Sunday evening.
Detective said she had been “travelling extensively across the UK during her 16 months on the run.”
Detective Chief Inspector Rhys Jones, who led the search, said it sent a “strong message” to organised crime gangs.
He said: “The arrest shows our determination to find those who think they can evade justice.
“I would like to thank officers for their commitment, dedication, support, and persistence in bringing this element of the investigation to a successful conclusion”.
““I would like to thank members of the public for their assistance and information provided over the last 16 months – which has been greatly appreciated”.
“This will send a strong message that the activities of those individuals linked to Organised Crime Groups operating within the area of Dyfed Powys will not be tolerated, and that they will be brought to justice”.
Crimestoppers offered a wanted reward of up to £1,000. She has also been added to their “Most Wanted” section of British fugitives.
Neighbours thought she was a respectable country mum – but she was the godmother of family crime gang supplying multi-kilo quantities of cocaine and cannabis to dealers from the isolated smallholding.
Her husband Stephen Leyson and his son Samson were jailed for a total of 17 years in July after the farm was raided by police.
But Lynne Leyson vanished before she was due in court to face justice – and was sentenced by her judge in her absence.
A judge said the mother was a “dominant force” who played a “leading role” in the drugs enterprise.
The court heard officers targeted Pibwr Farm, near Capel Dewi, Carmarthenshire, in the early hours of October 27, 2021.
They recovered over £60,000 of cocaine, £15,615 of cannabis, a 9mm semi-automatic handgun and cash – which they claimed was from a “house sale.”
In a Proceeds of Crime hearing, Ieuan Rees, prosecuting, told Swansea Crown Court both Stephen and Lynne Leyson benefited from their criminal lifestyle to the tune of £77,967.
Investigators have identified available assets in respect of Stephen in the sum of £33,147 and in respect of Lynne in the sum of £26,442.
Samson Leyson benefited from his involvement to the tune of £69,795 and investigators have identified assets – including a TAG Heuer Formula 1 watch – worth £9,550.
Judge Catherine Richards made confiscation orders in the available sums for the three Leysons, and gave them three months to pay or face additional jail time.
The judge said she was “quite sure” Lynne Leyson would be arrested and brought before a court “at some point”.
Lynne Leyson was found guilty by a jury of conspiracy to supply cocaine, conspiracy to supply cannabis, and possessing criminal property.
She was jailed for nine years in her absence.
After the case, one near-neighbour (Sian Leyshon but she asked not to be named) said: “We just couldn’t believe it.
“They seemed like a normal farming family, well a bit rough around the edges like a lot of country people. Lynne seemed very normal really – not a cocaine dealer like she was. It is all very odd.”
She was believed to be using the false name of Annelyn Caldicot.
Leyson appeared at Swansea Crown Court this morning, Tuesday 17th September where she was committed to prison to start her sentence.
She will next appear at Swansea Crown Court on Friday, 4th October.
A 26-year-old female was also arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and has been released on police bail pending further police enquiries.
MANCHESTER CITY midfielder Rodri has suggested that Premier League players could go on strike over extreme fixture scheduling.
Asked how many games is optimum for a player ahead of City’s upcoming Champions League clash with Inter Milan, the Spaniard said: “Honestly I don’t have an exact number.
“From my experience I can tell you 60-70 now, between 40-50 is the mount a player can play in the highest level, after you drop because it is impossible to sustain the highest level.
“This year we can go to 70, maybe 80, in my humble opinion it is too much. Someone has to take care of ourselves.
“We are the main characters of this sport or business.
“Not everything is money or marketing, it is also the quality of the show. When I am not tired I perform better and if the people want to see a better football, we need to rest.”
Asked about the possibility of a player strike, he added: “Yeah, I think we are close to that, it is easy to understand.
“If you ask any player he will say the same, it is not the opinion of Rodri, if it keeps this way, there will be a moment where we don’t have any other option.”
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CHILDHOOD vaccination rates have fallen for the fifth year in a row, NHS figures show.
Coverage in England is below the safe 95 per cent target for every available jab.
Parents’ failure to get their kids immunised is putting classrooms at risk of deadly diseases that have been off the radar for decades.
Uptake of the MMR jab for measles, mumps and rubella is at a shocking 15-year low.
Free NHS vaccines are also offered to protect youngsters from whooping cough, polio, meningitis, tetanus, diphtheria, rotavirus, hepatitis B and flu.
NHS England’s vaccination director, Steve Russell, said: “Too many children are still not fully vaccinated against diseases which cause serious illness but are preventable.”
Health chiefs reckon parents are either not bothering to have young ones vaccinated or being spooked by fake news about jabs that is spread online.
It only takes one case of measles in an unprotected school or nursery for numbers to suddenly surge
Dr Vanessa Saliba
Most are given between the ages of eight weeks and one year old.
NHS figures for England show uptake of the six-in-one vaccine fell from 94 per cent in 2020 to 92 per cent in 2023.
For MMR it has dropped from 93 per cent in 2013 to 89 per cent for two-year-olds and 16 per cent are not fully vaccinated by age five – the lowest for 15 years.
England has had unusual outbreaks of whooping cough and measles in the past two years and in 2022 traces of polio were found in London’s sewers for the first time in decades.
Vaccine uptake is lowest in the capital.
The NHS estimates that jabs prevent more than 5,000 deaths and 100,000 hospital admissions each year in England.
Dr Vanessa Saliba, of the UK Health Security Agency, said: “Childhood vaccines prevent babies and children from suffering needlessly and can be life-saving.
“It only takes one case of measles to get into a school or nursery where many children are unprotected for numbers to suddenly surge.
“It’s never too late to catch up.”
Steve Russell added: “Vaccinations have been protecting children for decades.
“We advise parents to urgently check their child’s vaccination records and ensure they’re protected.”
EIGHT WEEKS
12 WEEKS
16 WEEKS
ONE YEAR
TWO TO 15 YEARS
THREE YEARS AND FOUR MONTHS
12 TO 13 YEARS
14 YEARS
65 YEARS
70 to 79 YEARS
Source: The NHS