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NOVEMBER 6–13, 2022

Sleep First. Drive Alert.®

The National Sleep Foundation’s Drowsy Driving Prevention Week® encourages everyone to prioritize sleep and drive when they are alert and refreshed. Now in the 15th year of our annual campaign, our goal is to help people get the sleep they need and reduce the number of drivers who choose to drive while sleep deprived.

Together, we can help people drive alert and work to prevent thousands of motor vehicle crashes each year.

DROWSY DRIVING PREVENTION WEEK 2022
Fall-asleep crashes are often caused by not getting the sleep you need
Drowsy driving is more likely to cause a crash.

Just like drunk, drugged, and distracted driving, drowsy driving is a real public health issue, causing thousands of car crashes each year and killing an estimated 6,400 people in the U.S. alone according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports an estimated 100,000 crashes each year are caused primarily by drowsy driving, resulting in more than 71,000 injuries and $12.5 million in damages.

Drowsy driving is really risky.

When you drive without adequate sleep, your motor skills are seriously impaired. In fact, we’ll go as far as saying that drivers who’ve only slept 3 to 5 hours in the last 24 hours are unfit to drive. Most people understand it’s risky, but they don’t think about the consequences.

Drowsy driving is dangerously common.

Young drivers (aged 16-25 years) and shift workers are at greatest risk of falling asleep behind the wheel, but most drivers can relate to a time when they have nodded off while driving. Importantly, drowsy driving is preventable.

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Get the sleep you need to be alert and refreshed when you drive

Being your Best Slept Self® is important so you can get the sleep you need before you get behind the wheel. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to improve your sleep health.

Read the steps to get better sleep (PDF)
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The 2022 Drowsy Driving
Survey results are here.

The results are in, and they’re eye-opening. Read on to get some of the latest statistics about drowsy driving in America.


The best way to prevent drowsy driving is by making sure you are a Best Slept driver.


KEY SURVEY RESULTS

95 percent of Americans think drowsy driving is risky, but a majority of drivers do it anyway


6 in 10 drivers (62%) have driven a car when they were so tired that they had a hard time keeping their eyes open, a projected 150+ million US motorists


37 million motorists are estimated to drive drowsy at least once per year


Almost 2 in 10 drivers (18%) are overly confident in their ability to drive after sleeping only 2 hours or less the previous night


Drivers who get NSF's recommended amount of sleep per night (7-9 hours for most adults) are less likely to drive drowsy

Spread the word about the risks of drowsy driving

Drowsy driving affects everyone on the road. Download and share the survey infographic with your friends and family.

Download and share the infographic (PDF)
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2022 Drowsy Driving Survey

Drowsy driving is dangerously common—but it is preventable.

You can download our full Drowsy Driving Survey Report below to learn more about the results and how to help prevent drowsy driving.

Download and share the results (PDF)
FROM THE LEADER IN SLEEP HEALTH

Find out more about drowsy driving prevention

Learn how you can prevent drowsy driving by getting the sleep you need to be alert and refreshed behind the wheel.

Jump to a specific topic
  • Chapter 1: National Sleep Foundation’s Commitment to Drowsy Driving Prevention

    0:00

  • Chapter 2: Drowsy Driving and Sleep Health

    3:07

  • Chapter 3: Industry Insights on Drowsy Driving Prevention

    16:07

  • Chapter 4: Role of Government & Policymakers in Helping to Combat Drowsy Driving

    27:09

"Being tired hurts your reaction time and judgment, just like other forms of impaired driving.”
Temitayo O. Oyegbile-Chidi, MD, PhD
Chair, Board of Directors, National Sleep Foundation

SLEEP HEALTH TOPICS

Discover more drowsy driving resources.

Read on to learn more about how you can be safer behind the wheel by putting #SleepFirst.

Put Sleep First. Drowsy Driving is Dangerous.

SleepFirst™: National Sleep Foundation’s Drowsy Driving Safety Campaign   Did you know that sleepiness and driving are a dangerous combination? Drowsy driving can be just as dangerous as driving under[…]

Tips for Staying Alert and Preventing Drowsy Driving

Healthy sleep is critically important for your productivity and safety at work. Learn how SleepWorks® for you on and off the job.   Being a diligent driver starts with being[…]

Staying Alert on the Road after Work

If you work early mornings, late nights, or alternating shifts, you have a higher chance of drowsy driving. When you’re sleep-deprived, your motor functions and reaction time are impaired, which can raise your chances of getting into a crash.

It’s Time to Talk to Teens About Drowsy Driving

Sure, teens get tired of being told what to do. But if you have a teenager who is also a driver, talking about the dangers of drowsy driving is one talk you need to need to have.

What is Microsleep?

SleepFirst™: National Sleep Foundation’s Drowsy Driving Safety Campaign   What Exactly is Microsleep? You may be unfamiliar with the term, but microsleep is quite common and can be dangerous if[…]

Drowsy Driving vs. Driving Under the Influence

SleepFirst™: National Sleep Foundation’s Drowsy Driving Safety Campaign   Teenagers are at High Risk for Drowsy Driving Incidents Any driver can become fatigued behind the wheel, but males under the[…]

COMMITTED TO DROWSY DRIVING PREVENTION
Thank you to our sponsors and collaborators

NSF is proud to recognize our 2022 Drowsy Driving Prevention Week sponsors and collaborators, who are demonstrating their commitment to sleep health and road safety.


2022 Collaborators

Help prevent drowsy driving

Join our campaign to prioritize sleep and drive alert.

Get the Participation Toolkit
Follow us for more

Join the conversation about sleep health and drowsy driving.

Follow us on social media to learn more about how to be your Best Slept Self® and how you can prevent drowsy driving.