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• by Guy Sheppard Hauliers will be a prime target
Page 11
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for a new consultancy set up to reduce the risk of death or injury through tiredness.
Awake is the commercial arm of the sleep research centre at Loughborough University, which claims that 20% of fatal accidents on motorways and non-urban trunk roads are caused by fatigue.
Awake MD Dr Paul Jackson says: "Truck drivers have a particular problem with this issue, driving long hours, along monotonous roads and often at odd hours. The one thing that saves them is that they are professional drivers—but obviously in current society they are under a Lot of pressure to perform."
Awake has consultants based throughout the country who can help companies assess the risk of fatigue-related accidents and provide training on dealing with the problem.
Jackson says similar work done by the research centre helped reduce the accident rate at a major coach operator by 38%.
The launch of Awake follows the cre
ation of RoadSafe, a partnership between hauliers, vehicle manufacturers, the police and trade associations, created to help improve driver training and pedestrian awareness.
Patron Prince Michael of Kent says FloadSafe can "harness the creative talents of all those involved to find new ways of reducing accidents whose impact is felt in economic as well as human terms".
Iveco Ford, Wincanton Logistics and the Road Haulage Association are among more than 50 sponsors and supporters.
• Contact: RoadSafe at www.road safe.com or on 020 7344 1605; or Awake on 020 7693 6166.