TIRED drivers are suspected to have been involved in 200 accidents on Sussex roads in the past three-and-a-half years, including seven fatal crashes.

Sussex Police road officers said that after drink, drug and mobile phone use, fatigue was the most common cause of accidents on the county’s roads.

Drivers suffering from fatigue were also responsible for 140 slight collisions and 49 serious crashes between January 1, 2011 and July 31 this year.

The figures obtained by The Argus and released during Road Safety Week last week show that 2014 is on course to exceed the number of tired-related crashes in the past two years.

Of the seven fatal collisions, only one happened before 11.45am and none happened after 6.30pm.

Detective sergeant Carl Knapp, of Sussex Police Roads Policing Unit, said: “We stop anyone whose driving looks to be impaired but we can’t tell what has caused the poor driving without talking to the driver.

“In the case of fatigued driving, once we have ruled out alcohol, drugs, mobile phone use or other distraction, it is likely that fatigue is the most common cause.

“Driving whilst tired can be as dangerous as driving under the influence of drink or drugs so we would advise a driver to take a short nap or break before getting behind the wheel again.”

Deaths suspected to be linked to fatigue include Ernest Humphrey, 79, of Mackie Avenue, Hassocks, who died in hospital following a crash believed to be fatigue-related on the A27 near to the Southwick Tunnel in July last year.