The National Safety Council (NSC) is highlighting the dangers of sleepy drivers with the launch of its Driver Reviver campaign today.
Selected service stations across the country will become "driver reviver stops", offering tired drivers a free cup of tea on Good Friday and Easter Monday.
Speaking at the launch of the campaign, NSC Chief Executive Mr Pat Costello said: "Although driver fatigue has not been formally researched in Ireland, our road crash statistics appear to indicate the presence of many factors involved in fatigue related crashes. Eighty two per cent of accidents on Irish roads are caused by driver error - 30 per cent due to lack of concentration".
Research in Britain and the US has shown fatigue to be comparable to alcohol in its impact on road safety.
The NSC also highlighted the incidence of "micro sleep" - an involuntary reaction by the brain to lack of sleep which lasts up to ten seconds, during which time the driver is not in control of the vehicle.
Tips given by the NSC on how to prevent driver fatigue include breaks every two hours, plenty of fresh air, eating sensibly and checking any medication.