Driving While Drowsy

Sleep Deprivation is Dangerous for Any Driver

We all know that keeping drivers safe is the key to good fleet management. Sleep deprivation is a risk for any driver who is working long shifts, driving overnight, or simply exhausted. Symptoms of drowsy driving can include having trouble keeping eyes open, drifting from lanes or not remembering the last few miles driven. However, more than half of drivers involved in fatigue-related crashes experienced no symptoms before falling asleep behind the wheel.

A startling 35 percent of U.S. drivers sleep less than the recommended seven hours daily according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Drowsy driving is involved in more than one in five fatal crashes on U.S. roadways each year. And not surprisingly, the less sleep you get beneath the recommended seven hours, the more likely you are to crash.

How to Prevent Your Drivers from Driving While Drowsy

  • Educate on the dangers of driving drowsy
  • Encourage healthy behaviors and a good night’s sleep
  • Allow drivers to pull over and sleep when they feel drowsy
  • Caffeine can be a short boost but is not a cure for sleep deprivation

Remember that driving drowsy doesn’t help anyone. It puts the driver, other drivers and the fleet vehicle all at unnecessary risk. The more education and support for preventing driving while sleepy the safer and more efficient your fleet will be.