Fatigue spikes during the wintry months of August to September, and is at its lowest in January to February, while Tuesdays tend to be the day most microsleep incidents occur. More than 900,000 risky driving events were recorded by the driver safety advocacy group between July 2024 and June 2025, 19,336 of which were related to fatigue. Dylan Thomsen, a spokesperson for AA, said tired driving needed to be treated as seriously as drunk driving or distracted driving. Photo / AutoSenseThe authorities can lead this response by emphasising the dangers and warning signs of tiredness, Thomsen suggests. “If we can reduce fatigue and distraction during the most routine moments - like the morning school run - then we’re doing something that genuinely matters: helping drivers, and everyone around them, get home safely.”

Source: New Zealand Herald February 01, 2026 16:12 UTC