Are You at Risk for Drowsy Driving?
Drowsy driving is a serious issue affecting both teens and adults across the U.S. According to NSF’s 2023 national survey, one in six teen drivers—around 1.7 million people—admitted to driving while too tired to keep their eyes open within their first two years behind the wheel. Throughout an entire lifespan, about 60% of adults report drowsy driving.
While any driver can be at risk of drowsy driving, some groups of drivers are at greater risk for drowsy-driving crashes.
Research Highlights Six Key Groups
- Young drivers — especially males under 25 years old.
- Older drivers who have difficulty sleeping, have sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea or take medications causing drowsiness.
- Shift workers and people with long work hours — working the night shift can increase your risk of drowsy driving by nearly six times. Rotating-shift workers and people working more than 60 hours a week need to be particularly careful.
- Commercial drivers — especially long-haul drivers. At least 15% of all heavy truck crashes involve fatigue and sleep-deprived driving.
- People with undiagnosed or untreated disorders — People with untreated obstructive sleep apnea have up to seven times the risk of falling asleep at the wheel.
- Business travelers — who spend long hours driving or may be jet-lagged from a previous trip.
All drivers and passengers should be on the lookout for drowsy driving. Before you get behind the wheel, take a moment to check your alertness and if you’re ready to drive. If you are not getting enough quality sleep to be your Best Slept Self® you may not be fit to operate a motor vehicle.
For more information about drowsy driving, visit the Drowsy Driving Prevention Week page to learn more.