If you drive a car, this scenario will probably sound familiar:
It’s nighttime and you’re driving home It’s been a long day, and you start to nod off. Every now and then, the wheel begins to turn off course. You correct it and keep motoring on — maybe stop at a gas station for a Red Bull. But you can’t drink enough caffeine to keep yourself fully alert. You turn up the music to try to keep your mind occupied. You tell yourself, “I’m almost home. Just a few minutes left.”
But it only takes seconds to cause a major accident. Many of us are aware of the dangers of drunk driving, but “driving while sleepy” can be just as fatal. In 2016, drowsiness was the cause of nearly 10 percent of all car crashes and is responsible for over 800 deaths a year.
Drowsy driving is such a serious issue that many car manufacturers are developing technologies to help prevent these sorts of accidents from happening. Companies such as Audi, Mercedes, and Volvo already offer drowsiness detection systems that alert drivers when they are falling asleep. If the car senses abnormal steering wheel activity or sudden lane deviation, it will flash a coffee cup icon on the dashboard and set off a sound alarm.
Developers are also testing more advanced devices to keep drivers safe. Imagine: One day we could have cars that will switch to autopilot when we’re not awake enough to be behind the wheel.
These advancements are promising, but right now many of us don’t have the fancy tech in our cars. That means it’s important to know how to prevent drowsiness from occurring and what to do when we are feeling a little sleepy as we drive.
Here’s everything you need to know about drowsy driving so you can keep yourself (and everyone else) safe on the road.
What Is Drowsy Driving?
Drowsy driving isn’t just about falling asleep at the wheel.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, it occurs anytime a driver feels “sleepy,” “tired,” “exhausted,” or “fatigued.” When drowsiness seeps into our consciousness, it can have the same effects that alcohol has on our brains. Sleepiness can:
- Impair your reaction time vision, and judgement abilities
- Negatively affect your short-term memory
- Decrease your sense of motivation
- Increase feelings of annoyance and frustration, which encourages aggressive behavior
The data shows the effects of these cognitive changes can be deadly.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that drowsy driving killed 824 people in 2015, the last year such data was published. The NHTSA also estimated that drowsiness caused 72,000 crashes and 44,000 injuries in 2013, but it’s unclear how accurate those estimates are. In February, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety released a study that concluded drowsy drivers could be causing up to eight times as many accidents as originally believed.
It’s tough to accurately estimate the toll of drowsy driving, particularly when alcohol, drugs, or pre-existing medical conditions are involved. It’s easy to write someone off for drunk driving because investigators can use breathalyzers. Conditions such as narcolepsy and other sleep disorders can be diagnosed by doctors. On the other hand, there are no tests for sleepiness. Most cases of drowsy driving are self-reported, which is not the most reliable method of collecting information. Not everyone is willing to admit they were sleepy, and some people have trouble knowing if they were fatigued in the first place.
Still, the National Sleep Foundation has enough data to show that Americans are driving tired at alarming rates. In their 2005 Sleep in America poll, they discovered that 60 percent of Americans have driven while feeling fatigued and 37 percent admitted to actually falling asleep at the wheel.
What Does Drowsy Driving Look Like?
Even though drowsy driving can be difficult to measure, there are some clear warning signs that show a driver is not alert enough to be on the road.
Here are some red flags to look out for if you or someone you know is behind the wheel:
- Drifting out of the lane
- Frequent blinking, yawning, or rubbing of the eyes
- A vague memory of the last few miles you’ve driven
- Missing your exit
- Irritability and restlessness
- Daydreaming and disconnected thoughts
- Hitting the rumble strip on the side of the road
It’s also important to identify situations where a driver (whether it’s you or a friend) has the potential to become a drowsy driver before anyone even turns on the ignition. Here are some classic situations in which drowsy driving is likely to occur:
- In the evening after a long day (or after a night of sleep deprivation). Most drowsy driving accidents occur at night, when the body naturally wants to fall asleep. If someone is fatigued from a long day at work or has simply not gotten enough sleep the night before, that person has a higher chance of dozing off during the drive. The National Sleep Foundation claims most adults need seven to nine hours of sleep a night. Reports show the average American sleeps 6.8 hours a night, which means many of us are driving while sleep deprived.
- During long road trips. Drowsy driving may be most common at night, but it can happen at any time of day — especially during long road trips. Driving down the same empty road for hours on end can get monotonous after a while. If there are no other cars, pedestrians, or changing landscapes to look at, the mind does not have to work as hard to assess its surroundings. Soon your mind starts to wander and your alertness begins to drop. Additionally, sitting for long periods causes your blood flow to slow down. That will encourage the body go into energy conservation mode and can bring on the Zzzs.
- After consuming alcohol. Drivers also need to be aware of what they are putting into their bodies before they get in the car. Alcohol — even when consumed in small amounts — can be dangerous. You might not feel drunk after one beer at the bar, but alcohol coaxes the body to feel more relaxed or sedated. If you’re already a bit tired, having a drink can increase the urge to fall asleep.
- After taking certain medications. People who take certain medications have to be careful as well. Some drugs induce drowsiness and will put drivers at risk. For example, certain cold and allergy medications (such as NyQuil or Benadryl) can make you sleepy. Also be aware of certain painkillers such as codeine or morphine or anxiety meds such as Xanax or Valium.
If you ever find yourself in any of these situations before you step behind the wheel, it’s probably best that you let someone else take over for you or find some other way to avoid driving. That way you and any fellow passengers can stay out of danger and keep the streets as safe as possible.
Related: Everything You You Need to Know About Sleepwalking
Who Is Most Likely To Drive Drowsy?
While everyone has the capacity to doze off on the road, certain lifestyle factors and medical conditions can have a huge impact on a person’s alertness and increase their risk of driving while drowsy. These risk factors include:
- Shift work. Shift workers are nine percent more likely to drive drowsy than the average 9-to-5-er. Shift work is any work that takes place outside of the typical 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule. It can include late night, early morning, or long rotational shifts. Any job that involves shift work can drastically affect a person’s natural circadian rhythms and increase sleep debt. As a result, work performance decreases and more errors can occur on the job or while driving home.
- Working as a commercial driver. Of all shift workers, commercial drivers are the most at risk since they often have to drive long hours on the interstate — sometimes up to 11 hours a day. In some cases, truck drivers end up pushing themselves through fatigue in order to meet company deadlines. Fatigue and long, monotonous stretches of road can both increase the risk of driving while drowsy.
- Sleep disorders. Those who suffer from sleep apnea or other sleep disorders such as narcolepsy and insomnia can be a danger to themselves and other drivers on the road, particularly when they drive after a night of insufficient sleep.
- Gender. Studies show that sleep-related crashes affect young men more than any other gender or age demographic in the U.S. Overall, men are twice as likely to fall asleep at the wheel than women.
- Age. Teenagers tend to be at risk because they have less experience driving and they biologically need more sleep than the rest of the human population. Most experts suggest teens need more than nine hours of sleep per night, but oftentimes with the stress of school and extracurricular activities, this age group sleeps less than eight hours a night. This helps explain why adults between the ages of 18 and 29 are 19 percent more likely to drive drowsy than people ages 30-64 and 52 percent more likely than people ages 65 and up. Experts say less experienced drivers tend to underestimate the effects of fatigue and are more likely to drive when they are not fully awake.
Again: Anyone can be guilty of drowsy driving, but if you fit into one of these demographics, it’s important to be aware of the increased risks. Awareness is the first step to making healthier decisions behind the wheel.
Related: How To Stay Awake During A Long Shift
Risks Associated With Drowsy Driving
If you ever catch yourself feeling a bit groggy at the wheel, you might feel tempted to keep going and just rest when you get to your destination. But be aware that you are taking on immense risks when you’re not driving at 100 percent.
Bottom line? Drowsy driving has some scary consequences. This helps explain why state governments are doing their best to prevent these accidents from happening. Some highway administrations have installed signs saying, “Driving drowsy causes crashes” or “Drowsy? Crash on a Couch Not a Road”. Governments have also invested in building more rest stop areas.
But despite all the measures that are being taken, state officials have found it very difficult to really crack down on “snoozing and cruising” at large.
Very few police officers are formally trained to detect a fatigued driver. There’s no device that can measure sleepiness like a breathalyzer can analyze someone’s drunkenness. And oftentimes when someone hears the cop siren and sees those flashing lights, the adrenaline kicks in and reawakens the person before the police arrive at their car door.
In order for someone to prosecute or make a case against a drowsy driver, the driver has to be willing to admit that they were tired. Not everyone can or will give this information, especially if it means they’ll be in more trouble than they were to begin with.
Related: Are You Getting Enough Sleep?
How To Prevent Drowsy Driving
How To Respond If You Catch Yourself (Or Someone Else) Driving Drowsy
While the preceding precautionary tips will put you in the best position to drive safely, there’s a chance you could still get a little groggy on the road. If you ever catch yourself drowsy driving, consider taking one or several of the following precautions:
- Try drinking caffeine. If you’re feeling sleepy, energy drinks and coffee can work as a quick pick-me-up— but they aren’t long-lasting cures for drowsy driving. The effects of caffeine only last for a short time, and if you’re really exhausted, you can still experience “micro-sleeps” where you lose consciousness for four to five seconds at a time. If you choose to have an energy drink or a soda, watch out for the ones that contain a lot of sugar. Sugar highs might give you a temporary rush, but they are paired with a sudden crash in stamina, alertness, and overall concentration.
- Pull over and take a nap. This is the most recommended solution if you catch yourself falling asleep. As soon as you feel yourself nodding off, find the closest rest stop and take a 20- to 30-minute catnap before you continue driving. Studies have shown that sleeping for 26 minutes can improve performance by 34 percent and alertness by 54 percent. As with caffeine, though, the positive effects of napping are temporary.
If you’re ever out on the road and you suspect someone else is drowsy driving, there are a few things you can do to (hopefully!) prevent a serious accident from happening:
- Drive to a safe place. It’s important that you get out of harm’s way before you try to assist the situation.
- Call the police. Dial 911 and report the driver by describing the car, the direction it’s traveling, and the license plate number. Police will investigate the situation and get the driver to safety.
Remember: There’s only so much you can do to keep you or anyone else awake while they are driving. If you find yourself feeling sleepy behind the wheel, don’t push through. Get some rest instead. And if you see another driver dozing off on the road, pull over and call for help.
How Teenagers And Young Adults Can Avoid Drowsy Driving
As noted above, teenagers and young adults may be particularly susceptible to drowsy driving for a number of reasons: They have higher sleep needs but are often running a sleep deficit, and they have less experience behind the wheel. According to the National Safety Council, here are some tips that can help teenagers and young adults limit their risk of driving while drowsy:
Resources
For more information on drowsy driving and how to prevent it, check out these links:
- To learn more about the link between medication and drowsy driving, consult the Food and Drug Administration:
- To read about how the NHTS. is working to end drowsy driving:
- To figure out how to talk to your teen about drowsy driving:
- If you are a commercial truck driver and need some tips:
- If you want to learn how to talk about drowsy driving and educate others:
For even more resources, go to drowsydriving.org or the NHTSA’s drowsy driving homepage.
Conclusion
Drowsy driving is a serious problem in the U.S., and it needs to be treated as such. In American culture, it’s so easy for us to fall into our normal habits of working through fatigue and lack of sleep, but that mindset is dangerous once we get behind the wheel — if not fatal. It’s killed hundreds and injured thousands of people every single year.
Driving while sleepy is just like driving while intoxicated. Fatigue impairs your concentration, reaction time, and judgement, causing you to do all sorts of crazy things on the road: drifting, swerving, sudden speed changes, missing exits … you name it. Reckless driving can get you in a devastating accident, which can put you in jail or serious debt. So if you’re feeling the slightest bit tired ahead of your trip, make sure you are taking the proper precautions before you put the keys into the ignition.
While car companies are doing their best to come up with technologies that keep us from driving drowsy, it’s still up to us to make sure we are fit enough to be on the road. Remember, if you ever feel your eyes start to droop on the ride: Stop, pull over, and get some shuteye. You’ll be safer for it.
[Editor’s Note: The information provided should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a sleep doctor or other medical expert if you have questions related to your own health.]
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