As we head towards that time of the year when it's nose to the grindstone, with most people working hard through to Christmas, and journeys home being done in the dark, it's perhaps a good time to think about how you can make small changes to your driving to reduce the risk of tiredness causing accidents.

Around 300 people per year are killed in the UK in sleep related road incidents.  Gill Risdale (Highways Agency) recommends that drivers take a break every two hours whilst driving, saying "taking a short break really can mean the difference between life & death".

Traditional remedies to tiredness, such as turning up the radio or opening the window do very little to stop drivers falling asleep at the wheel, instead the Highways Agency advice is to do a bit of forward thinking. 

Don't start your journeys tired, think about what you have planned for the day and be aware of the risks and stresses you are putting on your body if for example you are planning a long trip, a full working day, and another long trip at the end of it.  Planning a bit of extra slack into your journey times is also advised, so that you can take a 15 minute break every 2 hours.

If you are hitting busy junctions and stretches of motorway, then pull over, have a rest and perhaps a bit of food, and then rejoin the traffic when it's starting to flow again, you'll be surprised that stopping like this adds very little extra time to your overall journey.

However, drivers everywhere will be pleased to know that the favourite remedy of a couple of cups of strong coffee, or other high caffine drink, does work.  But you still need to give yourself the 15 minute break to give it all time to kick in.