Summer is road trip season, with families heading out for vacations and weekend getaways. But more traffic also means a greater risk of serious crashes. While the dangers of distracted and impaired driving are well known, drowsy driving risks are often overlooked.
Sleep deprivation slows reaction time, affects judgment, and can even cause drivers to fall asleep behind the wheel. Recognizing the warning signs and stopping to rest can help prevent a serious crash and keep you and your loved ones safe this summer.
Drowsy Driving Accident Statistics
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 693 people were killed in crashes involving drowsy drivers in 2022, though the true number may be higher because fatigue is difficult to identify after a crash.
Summer road trips can increase the risk, especially for families driving long distances or at night. The National Sleep Foundation reports that parents are more likely than adults without children to drive while drowsy, and an estimated 1.7 million teens have also done so. More than one-third of adults and over 20% of teens say family responsibilities sometimes prevent them from getting enough sleep.
The Risks and Signs of Drowsy Driving
Drowsy driving occurs when a person operates a vehicle while fatigued or sleep-deprived, reducing their ability to drive safely and increasing the risk of a serious crash. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a lack of sleep can impair attention, reaction time, decision-making, and coordination in ways that are similar to alcohol impairment.
Common signs of drowsy driving include:
- Frequent yawning or blinking
- Difficulty keeping your eyes open or your head up
- Drifting out of your lane
- Missing exits, road signs, or traffic signals
- Trouble remembering the last few miles driven
- Hitting rumble strips or the shoulder of the road
- Difficulty concentrating or reacting to changing traffic conditions
Drivers are at greater risk of fatigue during long road trips, overnight drives, or after too little sleep. Recognizing the warning signs and stopping to rest can help prevent a serious crash.
What Should You Do If You Feel Drowsy While Driving?
If you begin feeling sleepy while driving, do not try to push through the fatigue. Instead, you should:
- Pull over at a safe location as soon as possible.
- Take a short nap of 20 to 30 minutes if you can.
- Drink coffee or another caffeinated beverage, but remember it can take about 30 minutes to start working.
- Switch drivers if another licensed driver is available.
- Avoid driving during hours when you would normally be asleep.
- Get a full night’s rest before starting a long road trip.
The safest choice is always to stop driving before fatigue becomes dangerous.
Is Drowsy Driving Illegal?
While most states do not have a law that specifically makes drowsy driving illegal, drivers can still be held responsible if fatigue causes them to drive unsafely. Depending on the circumstances, a drowsy driver may face citations for reckless or negligent driving, or more serious charges if they cause an accident resulting in injury or death.
What To Do If Another Drowsy Driver Causes an Accident
If you believe a drowsy driver caused your accident, you may be entitled to compensation, but you must first prove the other driver’s negligence. Even if it seems obvious that the driver was too tired to drive safely, liability must be supported by evidence.
To establish negligence, you generally must show:
- Duty of care: The driver had a legal duty to operate their vehicle safely and remain alert.
- Breach of duty: The driver violated that duty by driving while dangerously fatigued.
- Causation: The driver’s negligence caused the crash.
- Damages: You suffered financial, physical, or emotional losses because of the accident.
Building a strong claim often requires evidence such as the police report, witness statements, photos or videos of the crash, vehicle damage, medical records, accident reconstruction, expert testimony, and documentation of your losses.
Why Choose TORKLAW After a Drowsy Driving Accident?
Because there is no roadside test for drowsy driving, proving that fatigue caused a crash can be challenging. An experienced attorney can identify and preserve the evidence needed to establish liability and protect your right to compensation.
At TORKLAW, we move quickly to investigate the accident, interview witnesses, review police reports and available surveillance footage, and build the strongest case possible. We know how insurance companies challenge drowsy driving claims, and we fight to recover the full compensation you deserve for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses.
When you choose TORKLAW, you choose a team committed to your recovery. We provide personalized guidance, aggressive advocacy, and experienced legal representation every step of the way. Best of all, you pay nothing unless we win your case. Contact us today for a free consultation.
