A GRAVE warning was issued at a North-East cemetery yesterday to motorists who drive when tired.

The Government launched its latest road safety campaign at Linthorpe Cemetery, in Middlesbrough, with some frightening statistics and a three-dimensional mock headstone engraved with the words Too Tired to Drive - Too Tired to Live?

Hard-hitting television adverts showing a reconstruction of a crash caused by a driver falling asleep at the wheel will also be shown nationally over Easter.

Andrew Johnson, of the Government Office for the North-East, said that about ten per cent of all road accidents and 20 per cent of motorway accidents were caused in part by driver tiredness - amounting to about 300 deaths a year.

Research suggests that motorists are more at risk of falling asleep when driving between 2am and 7am, and that men under the age of 30 are more likely to have a sleep-related vehicle accident.

"Driving when tired is something that we all do - but what we are trying to say to people now is take responsibility for your actions and don't do it," said Mr Johnson.

"Drivers don't just suddenly fall asleep. There is plenty of warning."

He said that trying to keep awake by opening the window or playing loud music would not work.

"Both of these actions are actually myths, and neither will have the effect of keeping you awake to the level that is needed for driving."

Mr Johnson said the campaign had not been prompted by the Selby rail crash in which ten people died after driver Gary Hart fell asleep at the wheel of his Land Rover.

Mr Johnson added: "But obviously Selby puts into sharp focus the potential consequences of driving when tired.

"Drink-driving and speeding are seen as the two social evils, but driving when tired can have equally fatal consequences."

The AA is backing the Government's Driver Tiredness campaign.

Denise Raven, from the association, urged people to leave plenty of time for journeys. She said: "Too often we have unreasonable expectations of journey times."

The campaign advises drivers to make sure they have rested before starting a journey, to take 15-minute breaks every two hours on long journeys, and to share the driving whenever possible.