Drowsy Driving

Drowsy driving

Drugs and alcohol are not the only things that impair your ability to drive a vehicle safely. Fatigue can be just as dangerous – and even more common. Whether it’s from a long day of work, a late night out with friends or even just a poor night’s sleep the night before, being tired changes how you see, think and feel. Just like drunk driving or driving high, drowsy driving can impair your motor skills and ability to focus, slow your reaction time and affect your decision-making.

Most crashes involving drowsy drivers occur when a vehicle strays off the roadway and flips over or hits a fixed object on the roadside. The driver is usually alone in the vehicle and makes no effort to avoid the crash. These crashes take a large toll, accounting for one-third of all traffic fatalities nationwide and two-thirds of traffic fatalities in rural areas.

By the numbers

In 2017, 91,000 police-reported crashes involved drowsy drivers. These crashes led to an estimated 50,000 people injured and nearly 800 deaths.
684 deaths were from drowsy driving-related crashes in 2021.
These are NHTSA estimates. The real numbers are likely much higher. Unfortunately, determining a precise number of drowsy-driving crashes, injuries and fatalities is not yet possible. Crash investigators can look for clues that drowsiness contributed to a crash, but these clues are not always conclusive.

sleepy driver scratching their eyes while driving - drowsy driving violations

Drowsy driving can lead to other serious violations

There are no laws or penalties specific to drowsy driving in Connecticut. In fact, only two states have official drowsy driving laws on the books. However, drowsy driving can lead to other serious violations such as reckless driving, speeding and more, all of which can carry significant penalties.

drowsy driving crashes occur most frequently between midnight & 6 am or in the late afternoon

Drivers, passengers and pedestrians also face an increased risk of injury or death in work zone crashes.

Most drowsy driving accidents...

drowsy driving accidents often occur when people experience dips in their circadian rhythm - the human body's internal clock that regulates sleep

drowsy driving accidents often involves only a single driver (and no passengers) running off the road at a high rate of speed with no evidence of braking

drowsy driving accidents frequently occur on both rural roads and highways.

Drive to save lives – what we’re doing

Rumble strips save lives! Have you ever been driving and suddenly heard (and felt) your tires going over extremely rough terrain on the edge of the roadway? Those are rumble strips at work. NHTSA estimates that rumble strips could cut the rate of run-off-road (ROR) crashes in half. Several states have documented reductions in ROR crashes of 20 to 70 percent since installing rumble strips.

Drive to save lives – what you can do

Drivers

Getting enough sleep!

Being well-rested is the best defense against drowsy driving. Experts say getting seven to eight hours of sleep per night is right for most individuals.

Sleep before travel

While regularly getting enough sleep is critical, it’s also important to ensure a good night’s sleep the night before a long car trip. Plan ahead and don’t push off if you’re not well-rested.

Talk to your teens

Many teens do not get enough sleep at a stage in life when their biological need for sleep increases, which makes them more vulnerable to drowsy driving crashes. Advise your teens to delay driving until they’re well-rested.

Don’t drink and drive

As if you needed another reason not to mix alcohol and driving, alcohol consumption interacts with sleepiness to increase drowsiness and impairment.

Check your meds

Many prescription and over-the-counter medications can cause drowsiness. Check the labels and talk to your doctor about when and if it’s safe to drive while taking them.

Take the bus

Or the train or cab or rideshare. If you feel drowsy, don’t risk it! There are other ways to get where you’re going.

Avoid peak sleepiness

Experts say, the potential for feeling sleepy peaks between midnight and 6 a.m., as well as during late afternoon. Try to plan your trips outside of these times.

Know the signs

Stay vigilant for signs of drowsiness as you drive such as crossing over roadway lines or hitting rumble strips, blurred vision, excessive yawning or headaches.

Don’t rely on coffee

Drinking coffee or energy drinks alone is not always enough. They might help you feel more alert, but the effects last only a short time, and you might not be as alert as you think you are. Also, many energy drinks and supplements can cause subsequent energy crashes, making drowsy driving even more inevitable.

Try napping

While not fool-proof, if you get sleepy while driving, pull over for a short 20-minute nap in a safe place, such as a lighted, designated rest stop. This has been shown to increase alertness in scientific studies, but only for short time periods.