The cities with the drowsiest drivers in Ireland as study reveals impact of driving with fatigue

More than one-third of Irish drivers have admitted to narrowly avoiding an accident on the road due to their own drowsiness behind the wheel - with one of the five cities in Ireland having the drowsiest drivers.

A new study by Irish insurance broker Chill, which looks at driver fatigue levels on a city scale, analysing data from people who live closest to and in Irish cities, has revealed that Irish drivers face a heightened risk of accidents this summer due to fatigue, with 34 per cent having just avoided being in an accident due to tiredness.

Despite this, over a third (36 per cent) plan to skip rest stops on summer road trips this year, even when feeling too tired to drive. It’s estimated that driver fatigue is a contributory factor in as many as one in five fatal crashes in Ireland every year, according to An Garda Síochána.

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Analysing data from Irish drivers, nearly half (45 per cent) confess to feeling so drowsy behind the wheel that they risked falling asleep, and almost three in five (57 per cent) report regularly feeling exhausted when driving.

Citizens living in and close to Waterford had the drowsiest drivers, where an alarming 54 per cent of drivers confessed to feeling so drowsy behind the wheel that they risked falling asleep.

This city also boasts the highest percentage of drivers who regularly operate vehicles while fatigued (54 per cent) and those who get less than five hours of sleep per night (38 per cent).

Cork, Dublin, Galway and Limerick follow suit. All four cities report alarming numbers of drivers at risk of falling asleep at the wheel (ranging from 41 per cent to 48 per cent) and often experiencing fatigue while driving (between 50 per cent and 58 per cent).

Drivers from Waterford were top of the list

Examining seasonality and its impact, over a third (34 per cent) state they feel more fatigued driving in summer compared to other months. Over two-fifths (43 per cent) report the heat itself as a significant contributor to drowsiness, and a quarter (25 per cent) say dehydration levels cause them to feel more fatigued whilst driving in summer.

Despite the data showing a heightened risk of drowsy driving in Ireland, only 34 per cent say they prioritise napping or resting when driving tired. Instead, many admit to resorting to unsafe methods like opening car windows (60 per cent), playing loud music (42 per cent), consuming sugary drinks (49 per cent), and even talking on the phone (14 per cent).

Analysing the additional driver challenges the summer months bring, over half of Irish drivers (54 per cent) identified windscreen glare from the sun as a major distraction, further compromising their ability to focus.

A Garda road closure sign

Ian O’Reilly, Head of Personal Line Sales and Road Safety Expert at Chill says: “While fatigue is a year-round threat, several factors unique to summer make it a prime season for drowsy drivers and potential accidents. Hot weather disrupts sleep patterns, dehydration zaps energy, and sun glare can cause dangerous distractions for drivers”.

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