• About 40% of sleep-related crashes involve commercial drivers
• Research suggests that almost 20% of crashes on major roads are sleep-related
• Sleep-related crashes are more likely than others to result in a fatality or life changing injury
• Men under 30 have the highest risk of falling asleep at the wheel
• Peak times for crashes are in the early hours and after lunch

If you start feeling tired switch off cruise control, take a break; don’t worry about where you’re going - it’s better to be late than never. A cup of coffee is great for giving you a boost. It will be about 20 minutes before it has an effect, so have your drink and settle down for a nap. If you sleep for any longer than 20 minutes, your sleep will be deeper and harder to wake from.

Energy drinks are good as a quick fix, but they're no substitute for regular breaks. Having a high-caffeine drink only works as a one-off hit - you can't repeat it, as this type of drink does not produce the same effect with repeated doses.

Research has shown that just one hour after drinking a highly caffeinated and sugared drink, tired drivers can experience serious lapses in concentration and have slower reaction times as the drink wears off.

If you’ve got a long journey, get a good night’s sleep the night before. If you decide to leave early to beat the rush, remember that the early hours are when you are at most risk of drifting off. You’ll have another dip in energy and concentration after lunch too, especially if you have a heavy meal.

Carry a bottle of water to keep you hydrated on the journey, as well as snacks –especially if you’re travelling with kids. But make sure you’ve pulled over in a safe place to have your food or drink.

If you’ve got the time – perhaps you’re heading off for your family holiday – consider taking a different route to keep you alert. It might take longer but you’ll see more of the countryside, and may even miss major motorway delays. Set your satnav to avoid motorways but check that you know your route on a map too in case the technology fails.

If there’s more than one driver in the car, share the driving. This is especially important over longer distances, and does mean you can make better progress as one of you can rest or map read, while the driver concentrates on the road.

There’s no getting away from it, motorway service areas are expensive. Planning your stops doesn’t mean you have to shop! Take your meals with you or try a little off-motorway driving. Hugh Cantlie’s excellent book Near the Motorways lists great affordable alternatives to service stations all within five minutes of the motorway. You’ll also break the motorway monotony.