One in three GAA fans don’t get enough sleep before driving long distances to matches

39% of GAA fans have admitted to driving long distances to GAA matches after less than five hours of shut-eye.

The survey was carried out by Millward Brown as part of Liberty Insurance’s #DriveSafer campaign, which encourages GAA fans and the wider population to take steps to avoid driver fatigue on long journeys. Four in ten (39%) GAA fans admitted to driving to matches after less than five hours sleep, a slight increase on the 34% of all adults surveyed nationwide who admitted to getting behind the wheel despite not having an adequate night’s sleep the night before. Over half (53%) of GAA fans admitted to experiencing an incident when driving fatigued, with one in four GAA fans admitting to not remembering the last few kilometres they drove, 15% revealing that they missed an exit off the road and one in eight stating that they had a slower reaction time to hazards on the road. 6% of all those surveyed admitted to nodding off at the wheel, with 34% reporting of feeling fidgety, 22% of yawning persistently, 16% reporting of their eyes not focusing well and 13% of getting cramps in the legs, all due to fatigue behind the wheel. Liberty Insurance is calling on GAA fans and indeed drivers nationwide to be aware of the risks posed by driving when fatigued. For more information, people can visit the Liberty Insurance Ireland Facebook page or Tweet using the hashtag #DriveSafer to share their tips. Liberty Insurance will also be providing advice to help GAA fans and drivers nationwide to avoid some of the incidents revealed in the research. See some quick and helpful tips to #DriveSafer and avoid driver fatigue from Liberty Insurance below: •         Plan the route in advance and take note of rest areas where you can take a break, have a refreshment to stay hydrated and stretch your legs •         Make sure you’re well rested and try to get a good night’s sleep before your journey •         Avoid driving alone on long-distance trips. Passengers can both share in the driving and participate in conversation, which can help you stay focused •         Allow yourself ample time to reach your destination so you can take frequent breaks. Try to stop about every two hours, or every 150kms •         When you take a break make a point of getting out of the car and walking at least a short distance, where it is safe to do •         Driving for long periods at night makes fatigue much more likely. By avoiding travelling during these hours, you escape the glaring dashboard and road lights. That alone will help decrease your risk of motorway hypnosis •         Finally, if you’re losing the battle against fatigue, stop and rest in a safe place Liberty Insurance will also have a booklet and video with tips on Preventing Driver Fatigue available for consumers. For more information, click here.