Survey: 86% of Latvian Drivers Admit Driving While Drowsy or Very Tired

Driving while tired remains widespread among Latvian motorists: 86% admit they sometimes get behind the wheel drowsy or very tired. This comes from the latest Carlsberg 0.0 Responsible Driving Index, released by representatives of the communications company Miltton Latvia. Fatigue impairs concentration and reaction time, so the findings bear on road safety across the country.

What the data show

Most respondents, 77%, do this rarely, while 9% do so often or very often. That last figure has increased from 7% to 9% within a year.

Men admit to drowsy driving more often than women: 89% versus 81%.

Differences by age group

The 30–39 group reports it most, at 92%, compared with 86% last year. Other groups up to age 59 are similarly high: 88% among those aged 40–49, 87% among 50–59, and 86% among 18–29. Among drivers aged 60–74, 77% drive this way.

The picture among young people has become mixed. The share who drive drowsy at least occasionally is 86%, down from 89% last year, but the share who do so often or very often has grown from 9% to 12%. The same 12% figure applies to drivers aged 40–49.

Expert advice

Professional drivers' working and rest hours are regulated by law and tracked with recording devices. Other drivers must rely on how they feel, which makes it easy to underestimate the risk. Jānis Vanks, head of a safe driving school, says a person may feel able to cover the remaining kilometres even though attention and reaction have already weakened. If this happens regularly, it is a lasting safety risk. He advises stopping, resting and continuing the journey afterwards.

Coffee, energy drinks, louder music or fresh air in the cabin may help briefly to stay alert, but they do not replace enough sleep. Before a longer trip, it is worth allowing sufficient time for sleep.