Statistics
Sixty percent of adult drivers in the U.S. (about 168 million) say they have driven a vehicle while feeling drowsy in the last year.*
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates the following consequences from drowsy driving:
- 100,000 crashes annually
- 1,550 deaths (according to the CDC, the actual total is between 5,000-6,000 yearly fatalities)
- 71,000 injuries
- $12.5 billion in monetary losses
- Australia, England, Finland, and other European nations that have better reporting than the U.S. indicate 10-30 percent of all crashes are in part caused by drowsiness
Drowsy Driving: The Sleepy Killer
These figures are very conservative since it is difficult to attribute crashes to sleepiness.
Who is most likely to be at risk?
- Adults 18-29 (71 percent of all drowsy driving crashes)*
- Men are more likely than women to drive drowsy*
- According to the National Sleep Foundation, sleep deprivation increases stress and impatience, and drowsy drivers increase their speed more than those who have had sufficient sleep
- Most crashes occur between 4:00 and 6:00 a.m. and 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.*
Signs it is time for a driver to stop and rest:
- Difficulty focusing, frequent blinking, or heavy eyelids
- Daydreaming; wandering or disconnected thoughts
- Trouble remembering the last few miles driven; missing exits or traffic signs
- Yawning repeatedly or rubbing your eyes
- Trouble keeping your head up
- Drifting from your lane, tailgating, or hitting a shoulder rumble strip
- Feeling restless and irritable
Countermeasures*
- Get adequate sleep (7-9 hours)
- Schedule proper breaks while driving—about every 100 miles or every two hours
- Arrange for a proper number of adults to share the driving
- Have a fresh driver available for the drive home
- Be aware of medications that might cause drowsiness
- If you feel tired while driving (see above):
- Stop driving
- Take a nap
- Exchange drivers
- Be aware of rumble strips
Turning on the radio or opening the window are not effective means of keeping you alert.
*National Sleep Foundation
From the CDC