November 3-9, 2024 is Drowsy Driving Prevention Week. It is held each year the week following the end of Daylight Saving Time. According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), 6 in 10 drivers (62%) have driven a car when they were so tired that they had a hard time keeping their eyes open - that’s a projected 150+ million U.S. motorists.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports an estimated 100,000 crashes each year are caused primarily by drowsy driving, resulting in more than 71,000 injuries and $12.5 million in damages. According to NHTSA, drowsy driving resulted in 693 deaths on U.S. roads in 2022. However, drowsy driving is often underreported. NHTSA notes that crash investigators look for clues that drowsiness contributed to a crash, but these clues are not always identifiable or conclusive.

Drowsy driving is now referred to as the “fourth D” along with drunk, drugged, and distracted as major causes of impaired driving.

Young Drivers at Risk: Drowsy driving affects drivers of all ages, and notably younger drivers. Many teens do not get enough sleep at a stage in life when their biological need for sleep increases, which makes them vulnerable to the risk of drowsy-driving crashes, especially on longer trips.

Prevention: Crashes related to drowsiness occur most frequently between midnight and 6 a.m., or in the late afternoon. At both times of the day, people experience dips in their circadian rhythm—the human body’s internal clock that regulates sleep. Getting adequate sleep on a daily basis is the only true way to protect yourself from drowsy driving.

2023 research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety finds that drivers may underestimate their drowsiness, leading them to stay behind the wheel instead of stopping for a much-needed break. Key Findings:

Levels of drowsiness generally increased throughout the simulated highway driving experiment. Participants were usually aware that they were drowsy, but their perceptions of the extent of their sleepiness were not always accurate and affected decision-making.

• When drivers rated their level of drowsiness as low, 75% of them were, in fact, moderately or severely drowsy.
• Even when drivers’ eyes were closed for 15 seconds or longer over a one-minute window— indicative of severe drowsiness—one in four still rated their drowsiness as low.
• Drivers very rarely took breaks unless they perceived that they were very drowsy. 
• Even when drivers recognized they were extremely drowsy, they still declined 75% of their opportunities to take breaks and kept driving.

The results demonstrate a need to help drivers recognize how drowsy they are. Knowing the warning signs of drowsiness can help drivers avoid dozing off behind the wheel. The most common symptoms include:

• Having trouble keeping your eyes open
• Drifting from your lane
• Not remembering the last few miles driven

While the signs of drowsiness should never be ignored, drivers must not wait for their bodies to sound the alarm. They should prioritize sleeping at least seven hours before hitting the road.

AAA recommends that drivers:

• Travel at times of the day when they are normally awake
• Avoid heavy foods
• Avoid medications that cause drowsiness or other impairment

For longer trips, drivers should:

• Schedule a break every two hours or every 100 miles
• Travel with an alert passenger and take turns driving
• Do not underestimate the power of a quick nap. Pulling into a rest stop and taking a quick catnap — at least 20 minutes and no more than 30 minutes of sleep– can help to keep you alert on the road.