Are we nearly there yet? Encouraging more drivers to take breaks on long motorway journeys

18 June 2025

Are we nearly there yet? The common heard phrase on a long road journey. But when tiredness kicks in do you think about stopping at a motorway services to break up your journey?

With the summer holiday getaway fast approaching we wanted to better understand why some drivers are reluctant to stop during long journeys. Our new research published today looks into what can more be done to persuade drivers to take a break at motorway services.

Taking a break matters, we know that tiredness kills. On long motorway journeys driver fatigue can often set in, significantly impairing driver performance in the process, slower reaction times, decreased vigilance to hazards and a risk of microsleeps. These risks mean that as many as one in 15 collisions on England’s major roads during July and August involve driver fatigue. It’s important that people feel rested when they are behind the wheel. Current guidance recommends that drivers should take at least a 15-minute break every two hours when driving on motorways.

While many drivers are happy to stop when making long motorway journeys, seven per cent of drivers told us they try not to break their journey at all. Long-distance drivers tend to avoid stopping because they do not see the value to them in doing so.

So, what’s stopping drivers from taking a break?

In our latest research several factors which discourage drivers from using motorway services emerged, including wanting to maximise the time at the destination. This outlook was often linked to the risk of unexpected disruption which might cause delays during a trip (roadworks, congestion and bad weather).

This group of drivers was also sceptical about what the experience at motorways services will be like. In particular, reluctant stoppers tend to view motorway services as being overpriced and believe that they are too time-consuming to navigate. Put simply some drivers just have a strong faith in their ability to remain alert whilst making long journeys and don’t feel the need to take a break.

Encouragingly, most of the drivers we spoke to were open to stopping more often under the right conditions. Small changes by operators and the roads industry could help shift the perceptions of these reluctant stoppers and in doing so encourage more stopping.

By refining roadside signage (for example indicating where green spaces are available) which could help make drivers aware of opportunities to rest and recharge. This is particularly important when drivers are making unfamiliar journeys and may not be aware of the facilities available on their route. Some drivers also perceive services as overly commercial and not as somewhere to rest.

More publicity from motorway service operators, emphasising the role of motorway services as places to rest and recuperate without needing to spend money, might encourage more reluctant drivers to stop. In our last Motorway Services User Survey more than 90 per cent of services scored 90 per cent or more for overall visitor satisfaction. Many of us are happy with what we find when we pull off the motorway for a break, and our research also shows many will leave happier, and more relaxed.

It’s clear however there is still some work to do. In our last survey only two thirds of visitors thought the food or drink available to eat in the services was value for money.

We hope that that our latest report will provide a starting point for a wider conversation with organisations that operate, oversee and regulate motorway journeys. Through these discussions we want to encourage reluctant drivers to make better use of motorway services and in doing so create a safer motorway network.

So next time you go on a long journey, help keep everyone safe and remember to rest and recharge before getting back on the road.