Drowsy Driving: How Lack of Sleep Increases Your Accident Risk

Learn How to Handle Drowsy Driving Increases Accident Risk and Protect Yourself

Life is busy. Hectic, even. As we head into the holiday season, it’s probably not abnormal to have your days planned well in advance. We’re spending more time running from store to store, picking up gifts or planning meals, pushing to hit deadlines at work so we can take some much-needed vacation time, driving home to see family from college, or jumping from one party to the next as we celebrate a successful year. Yeah, sleep is usually the last thing on our agenda, right?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 30 percent of people in the United States are getting less than the recommended seven hours of sleep. And yet, there are 250 million cars and trucks traveling every day throughout the U.S. Getting enough sleep is not only important for safety but also for your overall health, as poor sleep can negatively impact both.

Driving while drowsy is one of the most under-reported safety issues on our roads today and the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety decided to examine this epidemic affecting our street. Drowsy drivers pose a significant risk to everyone on the road, but accurately measuring their impact on road safety statistics remains a challenge.

Studies show that this casual oversight can prove to be incredibly dangerous when it comes to transportation. Sleep habits, or lack of sleep, are drastically impacting our ability to stay safe on the roads, leaving many drivers fatigued and more likely to engage in what everyone calls “drowsy driving”. Sleepiness is a key factor in these crashes and is often overlooked as a cause. Read on to find out more, including some tips on what to do if you start to feel drowsy while driving.

The Importance of Healthy Sleep

Getting a good night’s sleep isn’t just about feeling refreshed—it’s a crucial part of traffic safety and preventing motor vehicle crashes. The National Sleep Foundation recommends that adults aim for 7-9 hours of sleep each night to stay alert and focused behind the wheel. When you don’t get adequate sleep, your risk of drowsy driving increases dramatically, putting you and others at risk for a car accident. In fact, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has found that driving on less than seven hours of sleep can nearly double your chances of being involved in a crash.

Sleep deprivation doesn’t just make you feel tired; it can also lead to sleep disorders like sleep apnea, which further increase the risk of drowsy driving crashes. Sleep apnea and other sleep disorders can cause you to wake up frequently during the night, leaving you less alert and more likely to experience dangerous drowsiness while driving. Prioritizing healthy sleep habits—such as sticking to a regular sleep schedule and creating a restful environment—can help reduce your risk of drowsy driving and keep our roads safer for everyone. Remember, getting enough sleep is one of the simplest and most effective ways to avoid becoming a drowsy driver and to protect yourself and others from preventable accidents.

The Study

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety concluded that missing even one or two hours of sleep per night can significantly increase your chances of causing an accident. The study also found that 35% of all drivers are sleep deprived and one in five deadly accidents involve a driver that is drowsy. Generally speaking, you are four times more likely to get into an accident if you slept less than seven hours the night before. Drivers who have not slept enough are at greater risk of being involved in a crash.

Being four times more likely is nothing to ignore, folks. This is a serious risk and something we need to be keenly aware of as we go about our busy lives. It’s important to rest and take preventative measures to ensure we’re well enough to be on the road.

The study also found that a driver with less than five hours of sleep drove similar to a drunk driver. Despite the high risk of driving while sleepy, one in three people in the study admitted that they had driven their car despite being so tired that they had trouble keeping their eyes open. That’s a pretty terrifying statistic.

Drowsy Driving Statistics

Missing one or two hours of sleep per night can significantly increase the odds of causing an accident.
Thirty-five percent of all drivers on the road are experiencing sleep deprivation.
One in five deadly accidents involves a driver that is drowsy.
You are four times more likely to get into an accident if you get less than seven hours of sleep.
Driving with less than five hours of sleep is similar to driving drunk. Sleep deprivation can have the same impact as drinking an entire six-pack of beer.
One in three people in the AAA study admitted driving drowsy and experiencing difficulty keeping their eyes open.

The Consequences of Drowsy Driving

The impact of drowsy driving goes far beyond just feeling sleepy at the wheel. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drowsy driving is responsible for an estimated 100,000 police-reported motor vehicle crashes each year, leading to about 50,000 injuries and 800 deaths. These are not just numbers—they represent lives changed forever by preventable accidents.

Drowsy driving can result in fatal crashes, serious injuries, and long-term consequences for everyone involved. Fatigue slows your reaction time, impairs your judgment, and makes it harder to stay focused on the road. Even if you don’t fall asleep completely, just a moment of inattention can lead to a devastating crash. Drowsy driving can occur at any time—day or night—and affects drivers of all ages and experience levels. By understanding just how dangerous drowsy driving can be, we can all take steps to prevent it and make traffic safety a priority every time we get behind the wheel.

Things To Remember

If you can, avoid traveling late at night and early in the morning. This is not always easy, especially if you’re a shift worker, as shift workers are at increased risk of drowsy driving due to irregular work schedules and fatigue, or if you’re trying to make a long trip in a decent amount of time. But, you have options. Here are some of our favorite tips for waking up, or to avoid driving when drowsy, especially late at night or early in the morning:

Comparing Drowsy Driving to Other Hazards

Drowsy driving is just as dangerous as some of the most well-known hazards on the road, like drunk driving and distracted driving. In fact, research shows that being awake for 17 hours can impair your driving ability as much as having a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.05%. The risks only increase the longer you stay awake, making drowsy driving a serious threat to traffic safety.

The National Sleep Foundation estimates that drowsy driving is responsible for about 21% of fatal car crashes, putting it on par with other leading causes of deadly accidents. Like drunk driving, drowsy driving slows your reaction time, affects your decision-making, and makes it harder to stay alert. And just like distracted driving, it only takes a split second of inattention to cause a crash. By recognizing that drowsy driving is every bit as dangerous as driving drunk or distracted, we can make smarter choices and help prevent needless tragedies on our roads.

Buddy System

Try to travel with a co-worker or find a carpool or road trip buddy. This method is ideal, but not always practical. However, if you have another person in your car, you can chat and keep each other alert during your ride. You can even switch off and share driving responsibilities if you have a considerable commute.

Rest

Consider resting before you get on the road. Find a safe place to close your eyes for 15-20 minutes, but not more than that. Sleeping for more than 20 minutes can make you groggy, so it doesn’t help much in the grand scheme of things. Limit your nap to about 15 minutes. It truly helps. If you happen to sleep longer than 15 minutes, when you wake up… give yourself some time to wake up fully before you hit the road.

Caffeine

Before you begin your commute, grab a coffee. It usually takes about 30 minutes to kick in, but caffeine can really help you to feel more alert. If you don’t like coffee, there are other options and equivalents – tea, gum, and soda. For an added benefit, and since it does take about 30 minutes for your to feel the impact, consume caffeine before you rest your eyes for that 15 minute cat nap. Then, you get the benefit of both.

Call a Cab

If you’re truly exhausted, can’t imagine driving, and you’re somewhat close to home (like if you pulled an all-nighter at work), call a cab. Or an Uber. Or a Lyft. Services like this were created for a reason – if it’s an occasion where you truly feel like nothing is going to wake you up, just leave your car somewhere safe and hitch a ride home with a professional driver.

Avoid Alcohol & Heavy Meals

Of course, alcohol use should always be moderated heavily if there’s a chance you need to get behind the wheel. Even one drink can impair your hand-eye coordination, reaction time, awareness and decision making. In fact, if you’re sleep deprived, one beer can have the same impact as drinking a full six-pack. Your accident risk increases dramatically. So, if you have to get behind the wheel, just avoid the drinks altogether… and be careful to not indulge in a really heavy meal if you’re already sleep deprived. A full stomach can also increase your risk of nodding off.

The Dangers of Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is another major hazard that can make drowsy driving even more dangerous. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distracted driving was a factor in over 3,000 deaths from motor vehicle crashes in 2017 alone. Distractions like texting, eating, or talking on the phone take your attention away from the road, increasing your risk of a crash.

When you combine distracted driving with drowsy driving, the dangers multiply. A distracted driver who is also sleep deprived is much more likely to fall asleep at the wheel or miss important cues on the road. Staying alert and avoiding distractions is essential for traffic safety. By keeping your focus on driving and making sure you’re well-rested, you can help prevent crashes and keep yourself and others safe every time you get behind the wheel.

The Solution: How To Avoid Drowsy Driving

If you are getting drowsy when driving or you want to prevent being tired when driving, remember these tips.

If you have a choice, avoid traveling late at night.
Try to travel with a buddy. Another person in your car will help keep you alert and share driving responsibilities.
Rest before you get on the road. A 15-20 minute power nap can rejuvenate you for your drive. However, sleeping longer than 20 minutes has been proven to make you sleepier.
Drink caffeine 30 minutes before driving. If you don’t like coffee, you can try tea, gum, and soda.
Call a cab, Uber or Lyft. If you feel like you are too tired, avoid a drowsy driving auto accident by leaving the driving to the professionals.
Avoid alcohol and heavy meals. You should never drink and drive. A heavy dinner and a full stomach can increase your chances of nodding off.
Always drive alert—make sure you are fully awake and attentive before getting behind the wheel to help prevent drowsy driving accidents.

Drowsy Driving Prevention Week, organized annually by the National Sleep Foundation, is dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers of drowsy driving and promoting safe driving practices through public education and safety initiatives.

Are You Tired?

However, if you are tired, sometimes your symptoms are not 100 percent clear. Many drivers that fall asleep at the wheel do not remember falling asleep. This is why slowing down, resting, planning and, when necessary, finding an alternative means of transportation are the best ways to ensure you get home safely. It is not worth risking the safety of yourself and those around you.

Symptoms aren’t 100% reliable, as many drivers that fall asleep at the wheel do not recall falling asleep. So, the best thing to do is to be preventative… slow down, rest, plan ahead, and if you’re still not able to get the sleep your body needs, find an alternative mode of transportation to get home safely. As we all know, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Frequently Asked Questions

What to do if you see a reckless driver?

If you see another driver swerving or falling asleep at the wheel that you believe is life-threatening contact the police. Have your passenger call the police and provide them with a description of the car and record the license plate if you can. If you do not have a passenger in the car, pull over so you can make the call yourself. If someone’s life is in danger call 911 otherwise call your local force’s non-emergency number.

What to do if I was involved in a drowsy driving car accident?

If you were the victim of a drowsy driver, you might have a personal injury claim, especially if you were injured, as injuries are common in drowsy driving accidents. Use these steps following your automobile accident.

Can a personal injury lawyer help me?

A personal injury lawyer can help you navigate your drowsy driving case. The experts at Elsner Law Firm are here to answer any questions you may have.