Chapter 7 · Lesson 17 of 38
Drowsy driving
4 min read · Safe Vehicle Operation
Explanation
Drowsy driving causes serious crashes.
- Nationally, an estimated 17.6% of fatal crashes involve a fatigued driver.
- Going 18 hours without sleep impairs you as much as a .08 BAC — the legal alcohol limit.
- Young adults 16–29 are at the highest risk (64% of fatigue-related accidents). Shift workers, parents, people on sedative medications and people with untreated sleep disorders are also very susceptible.
Warning signs: falling asleep at stop lights; yawning, rubbing or watery eyes, heavy eyelids; not remembering the last few miles; missing signs or exits; changing lanes unexpectedly; head nodding; drifting off the road or hitting rumble strips; not keeping a steady speed.
Prevention: don’t drive if you are tired. The best fix is more sleep. If you get drowsy, pull over somewhere safe as soon as you can and take a short nap, or let a well-rested person drive.
Example
Driving home after a late shift, you hit the rumble strip on the shoulder. That is a warning sign: take the next exit, park somewhere safe, and nap before going on.
Common mistake
Trying to fight sleep with loud music or an open window. The manual’s answer is sleep — or someone else driving.
What the manual says
Studies have shown that going 18 hours without sleep leaves a driver equally impaired to a driver with a .08 Blood Alcohol Content (BAC), which is the legal alcohol limit.
Do not drive if you are tired. The best way to reduce drowsiness is to get more sleep. Pull over to a safe area as soon as you can and take a short nap.
Sources
- Manual p. 45
“Nationally, an estimated 17.6% of all fatal motor vehicle crashes involved a fatigued driver.”
- Manual p. 45
“Studies have shown that going 18 hours without sleep leaves a driver equally impaired to a driver with a .08 Blood Alcohol Content (BAC), which is the legal alcohol limit.”
- Manual p. 45
“young adults ages 16-29 are at the highest risk, accounting for 64 percent of fatigue-related accidents.”
- Manual p. 45
“Among the most susceptible to driving while overly exhausted are shift workers, parents, individuals taking sedative medications, and those who have an untreated sleep disorder.”
- Manual p. 45
“Driving off the road or hitting the rumble strips”
- Manual p. 45
“Missing road signs or exits”
- Manual p. 45
“Do not drive if you are tired. The best way to reduce drowsiness is to get more sleep. Pull over to a safe area as soon as you can and take a short nap.”
- Manual p. 45
“Let a well-rested person drive.”
Check your understanding
Question 1 of 3