According to a 2025 survey from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 41% of U.S. adults have felt so sleepy while driving that it affected their ability to drive safely. That includes half of men (50%) and one-third of women (33%).

Drowsy driving is like driving drunk

Drowsy driving is a serious health and safety risk, and like drunk driving, it is completely avoidable. When you don’t get enough quality sleep, your brain doesn’t function at full capacity. Fatigue slows reaction times, reduces alertness, and makes it harder to stay focused on the road.

Even moderate sleep loss can affect driving ability in ways similar to alcohol.

One study found that after 17 to 19 hours without sleep, performance was equal or worse than driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.05%. Response speeds were up to 50% slower, and accuracy dropped significantly. After longer periods without sleep, performance declined to levels comparable to a BAC of 0.1%, which is higher than the legal limit for driving in all U.S. states.

Just as alcohol impairs judgment and coordination, drowsiness can delay reaction times and make it harder to respond quickly behind the wheel.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety estimates that about one in six fatal crashes involves a drowsy driver. Drivers between ages 35 and 44 were the most likely to report feeling so tired at the wheel that it impaired their ability to drive safely, but anyone can experience the effects of fatigue.

Warning signs to watch for

You might not realize how drowsy you are until it’s too late. Warning signs include:

• Frequent yawning or inability to keep your eyes open
• Catching yourself “nodding off” or having trouble keeping your head up
• Inability to remember driving the last few miles
• Missing road signs or driving past your turn
• Following too close to cars in front of you
• Drifting into the other lane of traffic
• Driving onto the “rumble strip” or the shoulder of the road

If any of these sound familiar, it’s time to pull over or have another passenger take the wheel.

How to stay alert

Before driving, make sure you’re well rested. The AASM recommends that adults should sleep seven or more hours per night on a regular basis. Avoid driving late at night or alone when possible, and share driving duties on long trips. If you start feeling drowsy, stop at a rest area and take a short nap.

If you work late or overnight shifts, arrange for a ride home instead of driving yourself.

Getting enough healthy sleep is one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of drowsy driving.

Learn more about healthy sleep habits or find an AASM-accredited sleep center near you.

Related:

• The growing shortage of truck parking: A ticking time bomb for drowsy driving accidents
• Drowsy driving in teens
• Drowsy driving kills thousands each year on U.S. roads
• Prevent Drowsy Driving: Stay Awake at the Wheel!

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There is a big problem facing college students today. Students are sleeping less and not getting a healthy amount. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that, as a nation, 35% of adults are not getting enough sleep. This comes out to about 84 million adults sleeping less than the recommended 7 or more hours a night.

The reality is that many students are overworked. Many take a packed course load, work a part-time job, and still try to find time to be social. However, a lack of sleep can severely hurt grades, among other things. Many college students cram before a test and pull an “all-nighter,” staying awake until the early hours of the morning. This ends up hurting in the long run, as being sleep-deprived impacts the skills needed to do well on tests, like memory recall and concentration. In fact, many students who pull an all-nighter often end up having have lower GPAs.

Lack of sleep can be caused by, and contribute to, mental health problems. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 44% of students experience symptoms of depression. Also, 80% feel overwhelmed by academic responsibilities, and 50% have struggled with anxiety. These mental health issues can hurt your ability to sleep well. Poor sleep also increases your risk of mood problems. This can lead to consequences with grades and work.

Another problem of sleep deprivation is drowsy driving. In this case, it is prevalent mainly among students who commute to school. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety states that 16- 24-year-olds are 80% more likely to be in a drowsy driving accident. Drowsy driving is like driving drunk: reaction times, attentiveness, alertness and decision-making skills are all impaired. When students don’t get enough sleep and then drive to class early in the morning, they not only put themselves at risk, but also everybody else around them. The only way to truly combat drowsy driving is to get a good 7 or more hours of sleep nightly.

As a college senior, I have personally seen the effects of sleep deprivation. I had two friends drop out of school due to their poor grades. They didn’t get enough sleep, causing them to skip class and do poorly on exams. Many of my friends and classmates don’t get enough sleep, instead choosing to stay up late doing schoolwork or being social. I am also guilty of not getting enough sleep as I often stay up late playing video games or (occasionally) studying.

Sleep is underrated when it comes to college students. Many treat sleep as a luxury only for the weekends, when it should be treated the same no matter the day of the week. The negative effects of an unfulfilling night of sleep outweigh the benefits of a few more hours of studying. College students need to start changing their sleep habits and schedules; until that day, sleepy students will sadly continue to underperform academically and fall asleep in class.

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Drowsy driving happens when a driver of a motor vehicle is too sleepy to stay alert. A sleepy driver will have slower reaction time, reduced road attention, and impaired ability to make good driving decisions. Research shows that driving after being awake for 24 hours is comparable to driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.10, above 0.08 which is the legal limit of intoxication.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety estimates that more than 6,000 fatal crashes are related to drowsy driving every year. Although not all of these drowsy drivers are teens, the National Safety Council estimates that drivers under the age of 25 are involved in at least 50 percent of drowsy driving crashes.

Teens and young adults have a higher risk of drowsy driving because they are newer drivers who are often chronically sleep deprived. The combination of sleepy teens driving with limited skills and little experience poses a danger to drivers and pedestrians.

As a high school student, I am familiar with sleep deprivation and the constant need to balance schoolwork, extracurriculars, and social activities. As a new driver, I am aware of the risks of drunk driving, but drowsy driving was never on my radar. On school days I leave the house at 7:20 a.m. (often sleep deprived) and drive a short distance to school. A rarely discussed topic, driving while sleepy has almost as high of a risk as driving while drunk.

Drunk drivers experience reduced and slower brain function. Alcohol consumption negatively impacts the central nervous system resulting in impaired thinking and reasoning, reduced muscle coordination, and slower reaction, all are critical abilities of safe vehicle operation. As the amount of alcohol consumption increases, the risk of crashes becomes higher. Sleep deprivation has similar effects on the brain. Teens are taught to avoid driving after drinking; why not teach them to avoid driving while sleepy?

Successful campaign tactics to prevent drunk driving could be applied to reduce drowsy driving. Another way to tackle drowsy driving in teens would be to provide them longer sleep duration by delaying school start times. I believe that both strategies could reduce incidents of drowsy driving. Other strategies include developing technology to alert drivers with slower reaction times or reduced road attention. To prevent more victims, efforts to raise awareness of drowsy driving should start now.

Talia M. Dunietz is an 11th-grade student at Huron High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

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As her mother walked her to the car, the dialogue between them would be etched in our memories forever. Brianna’s mother told her to be careful, to which her reply was, “Don’t you trust me?” Her mother assured Brianna that it wasn’t her that she didn’t trust, but other drivers on the road. Brianna’s response was, “You have to let me go, mom,” to which her mother replied, “I’ll just hold on to you tighter.”

Those were the last words we would hear from our daughter.

She was not scheduled to work that day, but being the Christmas season, she was picking up extra hours from co-workers taking off for the holidays. This was a second job she picked up, since she was employed at the airport in Oroville, California, working on a mechanics apprenticeship.

A young, heavy-set, 21-year old man was driving faster than the speed limit. The roads were wet from the rain earlier that morning. My wife and I later found out, according to the driver’s wife, that the man had been sick.

They had a new baby and he was not getting enough sleep.

He went to work that morning to make a delivery since he worked at a transmission shop. He had texted his wife telling her he felt sick, and she replied telling him to come home. In need of the work, he proceeded to make the delivery anyway.

For a time, the man managed to stay on the highway, swerving in and out of the adjacent lane for four miles – drowsing off repeatedly – until he lost control of his pickup truck on a corner of the highway. As the vehicle crossed the center median and up the embankment, his truck went airborne. At that exact moment, our daughter Brianna was coming around the corner.

He collided head-on with her vehicle.

The Highway Patrol report indicated Brianna had no time to react, and was probably not even aware of what hit her. Had there been a one-second delay in the timing, he would have missed her and she’d be alive today. Had there been rails on that section of highway around that dangerous corner, it would have kept him on his side of the highway and she would still be alive.

When my wife got the call from the hospital, she called me in tears. We were devastated! Our world fell out from under our feet that day.

How could this happen? She was our only daughter, our only child.

Our daughter, Brianna, was a unique child, as all children are in their own right. However, though some children enter the world with greater advantages than others, to a large degree, it is up to each individual what they make of themselves in life.

Through most of Brianna’s developing years she was raised in a rural environment, experiencing the great outdoors.  As an only child, she would spend time roaming with her dog around our 15-acre property in the foothills of Yosemite, California. Her love of country life outweighed city living.

Brianna’s upbringing, as a homeschooler taught by her mother, provided her a tremendous advantage in the academic years. Coupled with fresh air, plenty of sunshine and exercise in a natural environment, this paid off during those elementary and high school years.

Brianna’s love for flying began by reading about missionary pilots of the last century. Seeds were planted that would sprout and bear fruit within a few years. She would see her dreams becoming a reality, even before adulthood. At her memorial service, it had been stated that she lived a whole life in those brief 19 years.

In the last year of Brianna’s life, we saw a maturing – mentally and even spiritually. Mature people take responsibility for their actions. She learned that this in itself pays dividends:  respect, trust, and dependability, to name a few.

As a pilot preparing for mission service, she was just two weeks away from her commercial pilot’s license. Brianna had been on two humanitarian mission trips to Panama and Ecuador, where she saw severe poverty first-hand. She also had been to Japan, where she escorted a mother and her son as their photographer. Brianna was an avid and active scuba diver at the master level, a photographer, videographer, and a violinist; these were among her biggest achievements. Although she had much drive, she was also down to earth, teachable, non-judgmental of others, eager to be helpful where she could, and a friend to all.

The weeks and months that followed our daughter’s death were incredibly difficult.

Words cannot express the anguish, grief, pain, frustration, even anger experienced by a parent in losing a child. These emotions were compounded by sleeplessness, an inability to concentrate, and overall helplessness.  It has been said that losing a child is probably the most horrific loss a human being can endure. One thing is for certain: Parents come to grips with the dark realities of life in such times.

Only one’s faith can carry you through such an experience. But through it all, we have grown deeper in an understanding and appreciation of our heavenly Father, and we believe He fastened us in His loving arms. He truly holds the breath of every soul in His hands.

Giving a fair account of what has transpired in the 33 months since our loss would require us to write a book. For the purpose of this article, let it be said that we realized, through the influence of close friends and associates, that we needed to tell our story. A website was set up, and eventually a foundation was established:  Brianna’s Wings of Passion. We hope that it will further Brianna’s legacy and be the means of bringing hope to hurting hearts that have also experienced loss and tragedy.

The man who took our daughter’s life faced no legal consequences.

He was not under the influence of alcohol, or drugs; he just fell asleep. Since there is not enough information or preventive laws on the books regarding drowsy driving, no prosecutorial action could be taken.

In response, my wife and I are pursuing prevention and legislative efforts to reduce traffic collisions, especially those that result in a loss of life, as national interest continues to grow. In particular, this year has opened doors for us to meet with county officials and senators at the state and federal levels to consider pursing legislation.

Along with the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, we look to assist with drowsy driving awareness and prevention.  Here are a few ways in which we are currently involved:

• Helping to put up rails on the stretch of highway where our daughter was killed;
• Urging Cal-Trans (California Department of Transportation) to put up signage across the state to bring drowsy driving awareness to the public;
• Asking the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to add the effects of drowsy driving into their manuals, to include new drowsy driving verbiage in the DMV’s examination for renewal or licensure, and to include medical conditions in the application process that would alert highway patrol officers of potential drowsiness-inducing conditions at a traffic collision or when pulling over a driver; and
• Working with California Highway Patrol (CHP) to bring awareness to schools on the dangers of drowsy driving. The CHP will be doing a state-wide awareness campaign including a short interview on our family’s experience.

The drowsy driving issue certainly has become an epidemic in this nation.

We are pleased to see many groups – both private and public – collaborating on solutions. Our hope is that these efforts will curb the number of crashes and reduce the annual number of crash fatalities, both of which are on the rise.

For more information about Brianna Cassidy’s story, please visit the Brianna’s Wings of Passion Foundation website.

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What caused the truck driver to rack a 6 car pile-up? The National Transportation Safety Board is citing sleep deprivation.

The Walmart truck driver had not slept for 28 hours. The crash could have been avoided if he had slowed down to the work zone speed limit of 45 miles per hour. Kevin Roper, the truck driver, had driven over 800 miles the night before the fatal crash, which injured 21 people total.

Sadly, incidents like this are too common. Drowsy driving causes 6 percent of all crashes and 21 percent of all fatal crashes. Shift workers like Roper are at an especially higher risk of drowsy driving. This is because of the odd hours truck drivers are expected to work.

There is one good statistic related to drowsy driving — it is almost always preventable. If your eyes start to feel heavy, or you can’t seem to stop yawning, pulling over to a safe location for a power nap can make a huge difference in your alertness. Refusing to drive when drowsy can save thousands of lives a year. To learn more about how to keep our roads safe, take a look at the Healthy Sleep Project and commit to staying awake at the wheel.

Updated Dec. 21, 2015

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Download an infographic about staying Awake at the Wheel.

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The study analyzed data from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. It compared teen crash rates in two nearby counties during two school years.  One county had a high school start time of 7:20 a.m.  Classes in the other county began at 8:45 a.m.

Results show that the school day crash rate for teen drivers was much higher in the county with the early school start time. These teens were involved in more than 520 accidents per school year.

The results are no surprise to Dr. Timothy Morgenthaler. He is president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and a spokesperson for the National Healthy Sleep Awareness Project.

“When high school classes begin early in the morning, we ask teens to shine when their biological clock tells them to sleep,” said Dr. Morgenthaler. “Many do not get adequate sleep as a result.”

The Healthy Sleep Project recommends that teens get a little more than nine hours of nightly sleep for optimal alertness. But CDC data show that 68 percent of teens report sleeping less than eight hours on an average school night.

Early school start times are partly to blame. It is important that parents and local school boards work together to implement smarter school start times. This will allow teens to get the healthy sleep they need to meet their full potential.

Recently the Healthy Sleep Project launched the “Awake at the Wheel” campaign. The goal is to increase public awareness of the risks of drowsy driving.

It is estimated that drowsy driving causes 6,400 fatal crashes on U.S. roads each year. The rate of drowsy driving crashes is highest among drivers between the ages of 16 and 24 years.

Do your part to help teens stay “Awake at the Wheel” and safe on the road.

Learn more about the study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine: Adolescent Crash Rates and School Start Times in Two Central Virginia Counties, 2009-2011: A Follow-up Study to a Southeastern Virginia Study, 2007-2008.

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“Healthy sleep is essential to promote optimal alertness behind the wheel and prevent drowsy driving,” said Dr. Timothy Morgenthaler. He is president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and a spokesperson for the National Healthy Sleep Awareness Project.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety analyzed a sample of 14,268 crashes from 2009 – 2013. Each crash involved a vehicle that was towed from the scene. Driver drowsiness was assessed by trained investigators.

Results show that 21 percent of deadly crashes involved a drowsy driver. The results suggest that drowsy driving is involved in 328,000 crashes each year. About 109,000 of these crashes result in injuries.

The Healthy Sleep Project urges every driver to keep our roads safe by staying Awake at the Wheel:

• Make it a daily priority to get seven to nine hours of sleep each night. 
• Refuse to drive when sleep-deprived. 
• Recognize the signs of drowsiness. 
• Pull off the road to a safe location when sleepy.

What are some of the common signs of drowsiness? The American Academy of Sleep Medicine advises all drivers to be aware of these warning signs of drowsy driving:

• You keep yawning.
• You are unable to keep your eyes open.
• You catch yourself “nodding off” and have trouble keeping your head up.
• You can’t remember driving the last few miles.
• You end up too close to cars in front of you.
• You miss road signs or drive past your turn.
• You drift into another lane of traffic.
• You drift onto the “rumble strip” or onto the shoulder of the road.

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Lorri Henseler knows all about the risks of drowsy driving. Early one morning her 16-year-old son Ronnie was picked up by two friends. During their trip, the young driver fell asleep at the wheel. The car swerved into traffic, and an oncoming vehicle struck the car at full speed. Ronnie was killed on impact.

“It’s a heartache that will never go away,” Lorri wrote on her No Drowsy Driving website.

The family and friends of Bailey Corless share Lorri’s grief. On March 21, 2009, Bailey was in a car with two friends when another vehicle crossed the center line of the road. The two cars crashed in a violent, head-on collision. The 18-year-old, male driver of the other car had fallen asleep at the wheel. Bailey and her two friends were killed instantly.

“That was the worst day of our lives,” her family shared as part of the Utah Department of Health’s Violence & Injury Prevention Program. “We can’t describe the feeling of emptiness in our hearts and in our lives.”

Why do teens have such a high risk of drowsy driving? One reason is that they’re not getting enough sleep on school nights.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that teens get a little more than nine hours of nightly sleep for optimal alertness. But CDC data show that 68 percent of teens report sleeping less than eight hours on an average school night.

Early school start times are partly to blame. It is important that parents and local school boards work together to implement smarter school start times. This will allow teens to get the healthy sleep they need to meet their full potential.

Promoting safe driving is critical for overall public safety. But it is especially important for the health of teens. The CDC reports that motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death to teens. A primary risk factor is driving without a seatbelt. Other risks include drowsy, aggressive, distracted and impaired driving.

The CDC reminds you that parents are the key to safe teen drivers. Make sure your teen knows that drowsy driving is one of the danger zones for teen drivers.

Do your part to help teens stay safe on the road by staying “Awake at the Wheel.”

Updated Oct. 20, 2015

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“Drowsy driving is a threat to personal health and public safety – it’s just as dangerous as drunk driving,” said Dr. Timothy Morgenthaler, president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM).

A recent study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that 4.2 percent of drivers in the U.S. report having fallen asleep while driving at least one time during the previous 30 days. However, this is not a new trend. According to a recent report by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, an estimated 16.5 percent of all fatal motor vehicle crashes in the U.S. from 1999-2008 involved a fatigued driver.

“Rolling down the windows or turning up the music will do little to increase your alertness while driving,” added Dr. Morgenthaler. “You can drink coffee for a short-term energy boost, but if you catch yourself drifting into other lanes or nodding off, it’s absolutely time to pull over and take a nap. There is no substitute for sleep.”

The AASM recommends that you pull over or have another passenger take the wheel if you experience any of the following warning signs of drowsy driving:

• You keep yawning or are unable to keep your eyes open.
• You catch yourself “nodding off” and have trouble keeping your head up.
• You can’t remember driving the last few miles.
• You end up too close to cars in front of you.
• You miss road signs or drive past your turn.
• You drift into the other lane of traffic.
• You drift onto the “rumble strip” or onto the shoulder of the road.

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