Tourists returning from a break overseas have been urged to make sure they keep safety in mind when leaving the airport.

Specialist insurance provider Saga has announced that as many as 3.2 million people may be putting their personal safety at risk by driving home after a long-haul flight while feeling fatigued. A further 1.3 million travellers said they had got behind the wheel after a long-haul flight even though they had been drinking alcohol on the plane. The company pointed out that pursuing this course of action could pose a significant risk to their own safety but to the wellbeing of other road users as well.

In the event that people are involved in an accident after returning from holiday, it may be possible that paying a vehicle repair excess could compromise their ability to meet other areas of financial responsibility such as personal loans, credit cards or mortgage repayments. Furthermore, if drivers are found to be at fault for the crash, they may find themselves facing substantial legal costs. Saga stressed the importance of making sure individuals stay safe on the roads as the holiday season comes into play.

Research from the firm indicated that driving is the most popular way of getting back from the airport following a short-haul flight, with 27 per cent of people saying they chose this option. For those returning from long-haul destinations, nearly one in five (18 per cent) opted to get back by car. Of these, more than half stated that they often feel tired after touching down, something which the insurance provider said increased the likelihood of them being a threat to themselves and other road users.

The group noted that a lack of sleep radically affects your reaction times and ability to drive safely. It cited statistics indicating that after five hours of sleep, drivers only have a one in ten chance of staying fully awake for the duration of a lengthy journey.

Commenting on the impact that drinking can have on driving abilities, Professor Jim Horne, director at the Sleep Research Centre at Loughborough University, said: “Alcohol is a soporific, worsening any underlying sleepiness, which is why even small quantities of alcohol well under the legal limit can have profound effects. It can be particularly dangerous after flying when your body is more susceptible to the effects of alcohol. Driving under these conditions, knowing you are sleepy, puts your life and those of your passengers and other road users at considerable risk - think again - is this the way you want to end your holiday?”

Drivers involved in an accident who lack robust car cover may find it is necessary to pay for repairs - or even a new vehicle - using their own savings. For those who cannot afford to meet these costs, taking out a car loan may prove an effective way to get back on the road. A loan of this type may also be of use to the 72 per cent of AA customers who said they had been a victim of car vandalism in recent years.

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