Due to the time difference, matches are often broadcast late at night or overnight, while daily routines continue as normal. With early starts and regular commutes, this means many fans may be getting less sleep over consecutive nights.
This raises concerns around driver sleepiness, particularly as people return to the roads the following morning. Driving while tired can have serious consequences - even after just one night of reduced sleep.
To better understand the risks, we spoke with Professor Ashleigh Filtness, expert in Transport Human Factors and Sleep Science:
“Most adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep, but for safe driving, the key is getting enough to feel alert the next day. Even a few hours’ loss can significantly affect concentration and reaction times.
“People need to consider how staying up late fits around their wider commitments. Even short journeys can be risky. Fatigue isn’t limited to long drives, and reduced sleep combined with routine or monotonous journeys can be particularly dangerous.
“Being tired isn’t always unsafe, but it becomes a serious issue when combined with safety-critical tasks like driving. For most people, driving is one of the most hazardous things they do day to day, making sleep loss especially important during events like the World Cup.
“Sleep deprivation is powerful - one poor night can affect driving ability, and while the effects build over time, every night of reduced sleep matters. People shouldn’t assume they can ‘get away with it’ short term.
“Short-term strategies like a ‘caffeine nap’- having a coffee or caffeine-based drink before resting for 15 minutes - can temporarily boost alertness, but this is not a substitute for proper sleep.
“Ultimately, you can’t cheat sleep. Drivers should be honest about whether they feel alert enough to drive. If not, they should reconsider their journey - sleepiness is stronger than willpower and driving tired puts everyone at risk.”
ENDS