A micro sleep at the wheel can often be the primary cause of a collision, maybe tech can help drivers – especially Commercial ones – to get the required rest breaks and stay sharp?
Leading insurtech company Zego has introduced a new feature to its Sense app, called Rest – expanding its app-based telematics framework to address one of the most overlooked risks on UK roads: driver fatigue.
Based on UK and EU guidelines for daily rest periods, Rest analyses driving patterns to identify insufficient breaks and prolonged driving sessions – two key factors linked by Zego data to significantly increased crash risk. This addition sits alongside existing metrics in the Zego Sense app, including speed, acceleration, braking and cornering, offering a more holistic picture of driving risk.
Research highlights the urgency: up to 20% of road accidents in the UK are linked to tiredness, with fatigue-related crashes 50% more likely to result in death or serious injury. Commercial drivers are disproportionately affected, with 40% of sleep-related collisions involving vans or lorries. Despite the dangers, one in eight drivers admit to falling asleep at the wheel, while only one in five takes the recommended break every two hours.
Sten Saar, CEO and founder of Zego, said: “Driver fatigue is a silent threat, one that doesn’t show up in harsh braking or speeding data. With Rest, we’re adding a new layer of insight that helps uncover hidden risk, and empowers drivers to take action before incidents happen.”
Backed by industry research and Zego’s own performance analytics, Rest translates rest-taking habits into a simple, trackable score. It flags risky driving days – for example, exceeding nine hours of continuous driving or skipping critical breaks after four-and-a-half hours. The aim is clear: to help drivers stay safer on the road and ultimately reduce collisions.
The science reinforces the need for action. Staying awake for 18 hours produces impairment equivalent to a blood alcohol level of 0.05%, while 24 hours without sleep equates to 0.10% – over the UK legal limit.
Rest is now fully integrated into Zego Sense and will contribute to a driver’s overall risk profile, impacting both insights and pricing. The launch supports Zego’s mission to build a safer and fairer insurance model, one that rewards real-world behaviour and helps prevent accidents before they happen.
Saar added: “At Zego, we’re always evolving our technology to put drivers in control. Rest gives drivers clear insights to manage fatigue proactively, helping them stay alert, safer, and more confident behind the wheel.”
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