A new survey of UK yawning habits has shown that long distance driving is one of the most sleep-inducing activities.
Driving came second with 21 per cent of respondents, just behind seeing other people yawn, as the activity most likely to make people feel like wanting to sleep.
The survey suggested that advice on proper rest and avoiding car journeys is not getting through. The average driver surveyed admitted the longest car journey they had taken was slightly under four hours, which is double the maximum recommended by safety experts.
Eight per cent of drivers in the esure survey admitted to having fallen asleep behind the wheel, with just under 30 per cent reporting instances of micro-sleeping, when they couldn't recall whole chunks of their journey.
"The only thing to counteract tiredness behind the wheel of the car and fully recharge the human battery is having caffeine followed by two closely spaced 20 to 30 minute naps before setting out," said Dr Chris Idzikowski, director of the Edinburgh Sleep Centre.
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