MOTORISTS in Lancashire who find themselves yawning at the wheel are being warned to pull over and have a break from driving.

A poll by research organisation You Gov has found that only 22per cent of drivers in Lancashire believe that yawning is a sign to pull over.

The survey is part of a new Government campaign which has been launched to remind drivers who are tired to have a break at the side of a road.

The campaign highlights that one in five crashes on major roads is caused by tired drivers, and many motorists are ignoring the simplest sign, a yawn, that it's time for a break.

Dr Neil Stanley, a sleep expert from the Clinical Trials and Research Unit at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, said: "People read a yawn all wrong. They often mistake the energising effect that comes immediately after as a sign they can carry on, but tests prove this is not the case.

"Yawning quite simply means you're on the road to falling asleep.

"So, if you're yawning behind the wheel it really is time to pull over."

In Lancashire the You Gov poll found that 77per cent of motorists open a window to keep themselves awake on a long journey, 6per cent shake their head vigorously, and 4per cent slap their face, 3per cent have driven for more than seven hours without a break, and 53per cent of motorists at least occasionally try to beat their journey time on a trip they have done before.