Bison smart predicts heavy traffic on the roads this Saturday: red everywhere in France, except in the Auvergne – Rhône-Alpes region, classified black. Who says traffic jam says increased time spent at the wheel, and therefore the risk of loss of vigilance, or even drowsiness. According to figures from the National Interministerial Observatory on Road Safety, fatigue was involved in 11% of road deaths between 2018 and 2020. A figure which rises to 17% on the motorway. “Drowsiness is one of the main causes of death on these roads, because other risks, linked for example to intersections, disappear”, explains Anne Lavaud, general delegate of the Road Prevention association.
To prevent fatigue, “the break is essential” as indicated by the luminous panels. A break of at least 20 minutes every two hours is recommended. “When you have driven three hours in a row, you have to be reasonable and stop, otherwise you have more reflexes”, recognizes Denis, 56, who regularly travels the 700 km which separate Lyon (Rhône) and Oléron (Charente -Maritime).
“Many accidents occur at the end of the journey”
“You have to take a break as soon as you have the first signs of drowsiness, even if you are more than thirty minutes from your destination, because many fatigue-related accidents occur at the end of the journey”, explains Bernadette Moreau, General Delegate of the Vinci Autoroutes Foundation. Among the signs that should alert: repeated yawning, fluttering eyelids, the urge to stretch and fidget in your seat…
20% of long journeys are made without stopping, according to a study published this Friday, July 22 by the Vinci Autoroutes foundation. A figure that does not surprise Denis. “It’s the big wheeler syndrome: the more you are used to driving, the less you take a break,” he says. Another interesting figure from the report: 55% of stop times on rest areas are less than 20 minutes. Insufficient time according to Bernadette Moreau: “When you stop at an area, you go to the toilet, you go buy food… That doesn’t leave enough time to have a real restorative moment. »
Cocoons for a “flash nap”
Cocoons dedicated to the “flash nap”, a short sleep of about ten minutes, have been installed at several motorway service areas. The goal ? Encourage motorists to rest, especially during this period of major holiday departures. “We won’t necessarily take a nap every two hours, but it’s good to plan one during the trip, specifies Bernadette Moreau. For example, it can be done during the meridian break (between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.), because we have a small loss of physiological alertness at that time. »
On the departmental networks, the areas are rarer, or even non-existent. “I advise people who ride there to prepare a list of villages or places where they would like to stop before leaving,” explains Anne Lavaud. A good way to start the holidays before arriving at your destination.