Most people wouldn’t dream of getting behind the wheel while intoxicated. Yet many of us drive when we’re dangerously tired, and the effects are surprisingly similar.
Research from the Sleep Foundation shows that after 20 hours without sleep, your reaction times, awareness, and judgment are as compromised as those of someone who is legally intoxicated. Even worse, a driver can experience “microsleep”, which is when you experience brief lapses in awareness and your brain shuts down for a few seconds. At highway speeds, that’s enough time to travel the length of a football field.
In other words, drowsy driving can impair you just as much as alcohol or drugs.
How Common is Drowsy Driving?
Unfortunately, the problem of drowsy driving is widespread. Not only do people underestimate the prevalence of the issue, but they also don’t realize how much drowsy driving puts them and others at risk. Consider these alarming statistics:
- The Sleep Foundation reports that at least 50% of Americans have admitted to having driven when they were drowsy.
- The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) found that 1 in 25 drivers report falling asleep at the wheel in the last month (which is the equivalent of 1.16 million drivers asleep at the wheel).
- Data from the AAA Foundation found that sleepiness has contributed to as many as 6,400 deaths in the United States each year.
Drowsy Driving in Louisiana
Here in Louisiana, the dangers of falling asleep at the wheel are just as real. Between 2017 and 2021, 32 people lost their lives in fatigue-related crashes, according to data compiled by the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission (LHSC). That number may actually be higher, since drowsy driving is often underreported and difficult to measure.
Recognizing the seriousness of this issue, Governor John Bel Edwards proclaimed the first Drowsy Driving Prevention Week® in Louisiana in 2023. The campaign, supported by the LHSC, aims to shine a spotlight on what officials call the “fourth D” of dangerous driving, alongside drunk, drugged, and distracted driving.
The LHSC Executive Director, Lisa Freeman, said in 2023, “This is a great opportunity to bring a less talked about behavioral driving issue to light,” she said. “The dangers of drowsy driving may seem like common sense, but most people do it anyway. That needs to stop to save lives.”
Because Louisiana’s economy is driven by truck drivers as well as shift workers in healthcare, tourism, or plant work, drowsy driving has the potential to affect a large number of people. The campaign aims to highlight how important people are to their families and friends. “Unfortunately, one bad driving decision can have a lasting impact on our loved ones,” Freeman added.
This year, Drowsy Driving Prevention Week is scheduled for November 2-8, 2025, and aligns with the National Sleep Foundation’s annual observance.
Drowsy Driving Warning Signs to Watch For
You may not realize how impaired you are when you’re tired. Warning signs of drowsy driving include:
- Frequent yawning or blinking
- Difficulty remembering the last few miles driven
- Missing exits or traffic signs
- Drifting from your lane or hitting rumble strips
- Trouble keeping your head up or nodding off
- Irritability, restlessness, or zoning out
How to Stay Alert and Prevent Drowsy Driving
If you notice any of the above signs, it’s time to pull over and rest. The best defense against fatigue is prevention. You can lower your risk by:
- Getting 7–9 hours of sleep each night
- Taking breaks every two hours or 100 miles on long drives
- Avoiding alcohol and sedating medications before driving
- Eating light, healthy snacks instead of heavy meals
- When possible, avoid late-night or early-morning drives
If you’ve slept fewer than four hours or been awake more than 18 hours, you are not fit to drive. Find another way to get where you’re going.
What to Do If You’re in a Drowsy Driving Crash
The tragedy of drowsy driving is that it’s entirely preventable, yet it continues to take lives in Louisiana each year. If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by a fatigued driver, and wish to discuss the specifics of your case in a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer, please contact us today.