Half of all drivers risk falling asleep at the wheel

Over 50 percent of motorists risk dozing off at the wheel on extended journeys, a new study has revealed.

The survey claimed that in the week that millions of families hit the road on holiday, 55 per cent of drivers paid no heed to the basic advice to take rest breaks at least every two hours, the Daily Express reported.

The research has warned that men are far more likely to risk an accident than women.

The study also found that 14 percent of men have driven for six hours without stopping, in contrast to just 3 percent of women.

Additionally, half of males have driven for four hours without a break.

A third of all drivers have also admitted that they often try to "push on" if they feel drowsy and almost one in 10 refuses to stop at all on long journeys.

Julie Townsend, of road safety group Brake, said that a large proportion of drivers are scarily confident that they can push on through on long drives without stopping.

Townsend asserted that in reality, regular breaks are essential for staying alert and awake, as is getting plenty of sleep the night before.