A major awareness campaign highlighting the danger of drivers falling asleep at the wheel has been launched by the Nottingham Evening Post.

As the peak holiday season begins, and people make longer car journeys, the paper will tell some of the personal stories of drivers who have dozed off at the wheel – and their victims.

It will also look at the technology designed to prevent the accidents and what the Government is currently doing to tackle the problem – and what else it could be doing, such as putting up more road signs to warn motorists of the dangers of falling asleep at the wheel, and funding an educational programme for new and experienced drivers.

Post editor Graham Glen said: “Our Asleep at the Wheel campaign is poignantly and perfectly timed.

“But the problem of dozing drivers is not confined to the narrow aperture of the traditional summer fortnight.

“It is of year-long concern, and warrants a much higher profile than it presently receives.”

Backing the campaign, Notts Coroner Dr Nigel Chapman said: “I fully support the Evening Post’s campaign to make drivers much more aware of the dangers of falling asleep at the wheel, or simply just becoming drowsy and losing concentration while driving a very dangerous piece of equipment.”