NOVEMBER 2–8, 2025
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. 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 2025
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.
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)
The 2025 Drowsy Driving Survey Results Are In
There is strong public awareness of drowsy driving risks among both adults and teens as well as missed opportunities for prevention. But drowsy driving goes beyond individual behavior. Families play a vital role in ensuring everyone gets enough quality sleep to drive alert and in holding each other accountable. NSF’s goal is to help families prioritize sleep and reduce the number of sleep-deprived drivers on the road. Together, we can prevent thousands of crashes each year.
Drowsy Driving is a Family Sleep Health Issue
KEY SURVEY RESULTS
Sleep is a Top Priority for Family Health and Safety
- Parents rank getting enough sleep to drive alert as the most important thing to keep their families healthy and safe—higher than a healthy diet, physical activity, and limiting TV time.
Most People Drive Drowsy, Especially Parents
and Teenagers
- Parents are more likely to have driven drowsy compared to people who are not parents.
- An estimated 1.7 million teens nationwide report having driven drowsy.
Families With the Youngest and Oldest Children
Drive Drowsy Most Often
- From frequent nighttime awakenings to early school drop-offs and multiple competing demands, families face many sleep challenges.
Families Can Contribute to and Prevent Drowsy Driving
- Over 1/3 of adults and more than 20% of teens said family obligations get in the way of getting the sleep they need to drive alert.
- More than 7 in 10 adults have urged someone not to drive when too tired, with many people asking family members to make safe driving choices.
Keep your family and others safe on the road. The best way to avoid drowsy driving is to
Sleep First. Drive Alert.®
Drowsy driving affects everyone on the road. Download and share the study infographic with your friends and family.
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.
Join National Sleep Foundation at its Drowsy Driving Prevention Expert Safety Panel
A critical and timely health and safety event about drowsy driving on
Thursday, November 6, at 10am in Washington, DC.
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.
Protecting Your Family on the Road Starts at Home with Healthy Sleep
You might not realize is that choosing to drive when not fully alert is a form of impaired driving.
Sleep First to Prevent Drowsy Driving.
Drowsy driving is dangerous, but preventable. Learn some things you can do before getting behind the wheel.
Signs and Symptoms of Drowsy Driving
Before getting into the car with someone or driving yourself, review our tips for preventing Drowsy Driving. Learn the 8 drowsy driving warning signs.
Wait. Drowsy Driving is like Drunk Driving?
When people drive after sleeping four hours or less, it’s like driving drunk. Learn why teenagers are more susceptible to drowsy driving.
Sleep Health and Safety: Navigating the Road to Alert Driving
Understand how technological advancements can enhance two of the most critical aspects of our lives: healthy sleep and safe driving.
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.
NSF is proud to recognize our Drowsy Driving Prevention Week sponsors and collaborators who are demonstrating their commitment to sleep health and road safety.
Sponsors
Campaign Collaborators
Sponsorship Opportunities
Committed to sleep health? Support the NSF.
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.
