Don't Drive Tired

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Tue 9 Apr 2002 18:15
Don't Drive Tired - Phil T
I see the powers that be are pleading that we "Don't Drive Tired" on various motorways via overhead signs. Whilst I applaud the sentiment, do the panel feel that this will really make a tired driver pull over in the next services area for a kip?

I also wonder why these signs always seem to have their messages corrupted (certainly the ones on the M27 do anyway) - Is this a national problem or just confined to the south coast?

Phil T
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Tue 9 Apr 2002 18:22
Re: Don't Drive Tired - Mark (Brazil)
Answering for me, no it doesn't encourage me to pull over.

If I am so tired I shouldn't be driving but I am still doing so, then the sign doesn't grab my attention.

What does encourage me is a safe, quiet, coffee and grub available, clean service area with decent toilets.

I always found the police "up north" more understanding. I used to travel a lot for work in the UK and always found police north of Watford very understanding about the idea of grabbing forty winks in your car.

Much less so in the south.

However, back to the sign, I guess anything which gently reinforces the idea of driving when tired is bad, is probably a good thing.
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Tue 9 Apr 2002 20:02
Re: Don't Drive Tired - Trevor Potter
You are absolutely right - the "rest" areas off French main roads make ours look pathetic.

For a start, there are a lot more of them (or maybe it just seems so).

In Jan, driving down to Spain, significant road upgrades to Motorways - but they HAVE to have rest areas before they open.
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Tue 9 Apr 2002 19:05
Re: Don't Drive Tired - THe Growler
The TV "commercial" with the msg about going to sleep in a nice warm place with your family around you, followed by a car careening off the road is pretty forceful.
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Tue 9 Apr 2002 22:39
Re: Don't Drive Tired - neil
As the great Monkhouse once said - I hope to die in my sleep, like my dad - not screaming in fear, like his passengers...
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Tue 9 Apr 2002 23:44
Re: Don't Drive Tired - Dave N
There was a piece in the paper the other day, asking if the NHS were going to pay for taxis to take home the student doctors after their 36 hour shifts.
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Wed 10 Apr 2002 11:05
Re: Don't Drive Tired - Alwyn
Dave,

Right on the money. Doctors are actually contracted to work those hours but if a driver drove after having no rest for even 24 hours and caused an accident, all hell would break loose.

It seems that deaths due to medical accidents through tiredness are acceptable.

Can't think why.
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Wed 10 Apr 2002 14:28
Re: Don't Drive Tired - Derek
After a couple of 'dozing offs' when driving the M1 on business about 15-20 years ago, I've never been slow to pull over and kip in the car. Driving when tired is plain irresponsible.
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