This information is compiled and maintained by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It is available on our web site as a service to you.
Drowsy Driving Facts
- Each year, falling asleep at the wheel is responsible for at least 100,000 automobile crashes, 40,000 injuries, and 1,550 fatalities nationwide.
- Drowsy driving most often occurs during late night/early morning or late afternoon.
- The crash usually involves a single vehicle leaving the roadway.
- The crash occurs on a high-speed road.
- The driver is alone in the vehicle.
Causes
- Sleep loss
- Driving patterns. For example, driving between midnight and 6 a.m. every night.
- Use of sedating medications.
- Untreated or unrecognized sleeping disorders.
- Use of alcohol.
High-Risk Populations
- Young people between the ages of 16 and 29, especially males.
- Shift workers whose sleep is disrupted by working nights or working long, irregular hours.
- People with untreated sleep apnea syndrome and narcolepsy.
How to Prevent Drowsy Driving
- Plan to get sufficient sleep before driving.
- Avoid even small amounts of alcohol when sleepy.
- Limit driving between midnight and 6 a.m.
- As soon as a driver becomes sleepy, he or she should stop driving and either let a passenger drive or stop for some sleep before continuing.
Getting Better Sleep
Each year when its time to change America's clocks, the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) reminds the public of proper behavior that will lead to a more fulfilling and restful night of sleep. NSF has also released the results from its "2002 Sleep in America" poll, which are available on their Web site, located at http://www.sleepfoundation.org/.
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