The figure comes from Brake as the government announces it is tightening up on motoring offences.

The charity says that as tiredness accounts nationally for 20% of crashes it can be worked out how many accidents could be caused by driver fatigue in Lincolnshire.

Last year there were 614 deaths and serious injuries on the county's roads.

That would mean as many as 123 of these incidents could be caused by tiredness.

'Stop if tired'

The charity also said research showed that using a phone while behind the wheel was as dangerous as drink driving.

It has welcomed moves that anyone who caused death while falling asleep at the wheel - or while on the phone - should automatically be given a custodial sentence.

Ben Heatley, from Brake, said: "The problem is that up until now tiredness has been seen as some kind of mitigating factor with regard to a road crash.

"People will say 'I didn't mean to fall asleep, it just happened' as if they did not have any control.

"But the truth is you do have a choice and you can stop if tired."