DRIVER fatigue will be highlighted in a new safety campaign after official statistics showed that tiredness contributed to 29 deaths and serious injuries on Scotland's roads.

Motorists will be reminded to take 15-minute rest stops and recharge with a coffee in the new 'Driving tired?' campaign, to be unveiled by the Scottish Government and Transport Scotland.

Fatigue is a factor in 10 per cent of crashes on the M74 motorway and around six per cent on the A9.

The most recent available figures, for 2013, revealed that there were 107 casualties - including 29 deaths and serious injuries - from road collisions caused, or partly caused, by tiredness.

However, the true toll of fatigue on the roads is believed to be much higher, with some estimates suggesting it plays a role in up to a quarter of fatal and serious accidents.

The danger was highlighted by the case of junior medic, Dr Lauren Connelly, who was killed when she crashed driving home from a 12-hour night shift at Inverclyde Royal Hospital in Greenock in 2011. The tragedy prompted calls for an overhaul of shift patterns for new doctors.

Advice from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) states that drinking two cups of caffeinated coffee is one of the most effective ways of countering fatigue.

Michael McDonnell, Director Road Safety Scotland said: "We all have a part to play in making Scotland's roads safer. Driver fatigue is a serious problem that causes too many road accidents each year.

"Drivers are aware when they are feeling sleepy, and therefore make a conscious decision about whether to continue on, or stop for a rest.

"Drivers should plan their journeys well in advance, ensure they well rested before setting out and take breaks with a caffeinated drink every two hours. It's simple yet powerful advice which can help save many lives on Scotland's roads."

Young men are the most likely to fall asleep behind the wheel. Figures reveal that 85 per cent of car drivers caught dozing off are male, and a third are 30 or under.

Crashes involving fatigue typically happen on long, monotonous stretches of road, such as motorways, and most often occur either in the early hours of the morning, between 2am and 6am, or in the afternoon, between 2pm and 4pm, especially if the driver has eaten or consumed alcohol - even it was only one drink.

Workers driving home after a long shift, especially a nightshift, are also more likely to crash due to fatigue.

Neil Greig, director of research and policy with the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) said: "Tiredness reduces reaction time but it also affects vigilance, alertness and concentration, so your ability to perform attention-based activities, such as driving, is impaired.

"The speed at which information is processed is also reduced when tired, so the quality of your decision making can be impacted. Those who persist in driving underestimate the risk of actually falling asleep at the wheel, or may simply choose to ignore the risk.

"This campaign provides practical advice to help motorists make the right decisions. However, a real rest is ultimately the best cure for fatigue."