National Sleep Awareness Week®
March 7-13, 2010

What is drowsy driving?

Drowsy driving or driver fatigue is a general term commonly used to describe the experience of being “sleepy,” “tired,” “drowsy,” or “exhausted.” While all of these terms have different meanings in research and clinical settings, they tend to be used interchangeably in the traffic safety and transportation fields.  When you do not get enough sleep, you are more likely to be involved in a crash or injure someone.

Sleep in America Poll Data

Excessive sleepiness is not just a matter of feeling lousy – it can also affect mood, relationships, work, and quality of life.  According to the results of the National Sleep Foundation's (NSF) 2008 Sleep in America poll:

• 36 percent of Americans drive drowsy or fall asleep while driving
• 29 percent of Americans fall asleep or become very sleepy at work
• 14 percent report having to miss family events, work functions, and leisure activities in the past month due to sleepiness

What are the facts concerning drowsy driving?

• One of the most serious risks associated with excessive sleepiness is drowsy driving.  NSF's 2008 poll revealed that a whopping 36 percent of American adults have nodded off or fallen asleep while driving.  Sleepiness and driving do not mix.  If you feel sleepy, you should not drive
• People vary in their need for sleep, but experts agree that for most adults the amount needed to feel one’s best is somewhere between seven and nine hours per night.  Teens and young adults usually need nine hours of sleep or more per night.  If you suffer from excessive sleepiness that persists for more than three weeks despite allowing adequate time for sleep, discuss the problem with your healthcare professional.

• Teens need about 9 1/4 hours of sleep each night to function best (for some, 8 1/2 hours is enough). Most teens do not get enough sleep — one study found that only 15% reported sleeping 8 1/2 hours on school nights.
• Driver fatigue is a critical issue for commercial drivers.  The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) attempts to control commercial driver fatigue through Hours of Service regulations, driver logs and inspections.
• When you are sleep deprived, you are as impaired as driving with a blood alcohol content of .08%, which is illegal for drivers in many states.  

• According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drowsy driving claims more than 1,500 live and cause at least 100,000 motor vehicle crashes each year.

Resources: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, National Sleep Foundation