Wake Up To The Dangers Of Drowsy Driving: The Silent Threat On Our Roads And How To Protect Your Family

Before you hit the road yawning, consider this: drowsy driving can turn your car into a ticking time bomb, putting everyone at risk long before your eyelids finally close.

Drowsy driving remains one of America’s most underestimated dangers, leading to thousands of preventable crashes, injuries, and deaths each year. For National Sleep Foundation launches 2025’s Drowsy Driving Prevention Week, it’s time for every driver and family to get serious about this silent threat.

The National Sleep Foundation’s latest research drives home the point that fatigue behind the wheel can be just as devastating as alcohol use.

• About 20% of serious car crash injuries involve a drowsy driver., according to the National Sleep Foundation.
• Every year, at least 100,000 crashes, more than 50,000 injuries and about 800 deaths are attributed to drowsy driving, and these numbers are likely underestimated due to underreporting, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates.
• In 2025, the sleep foundation’s survey revealed that 45% of drivers admit to having driven while drowsy in the past month, and about one-third have nodded off behind the wheel at least once in their lifetime.​

So why Is drowsy driving so dangerous? Fatigue doesn’t just make you feel sluggish, it sharply impairs reaction times, focus, and decision-making. Experts highlight that losing even two hours of sleep can impair you as much as three alcoholic drinks; go 24 hours with no sleep, and your crash risk mimics someone well over the legal alcohol limit. The danger is magnified by “microsleeps”, those momentary lapses that last only a few seconds but, at highway speeds, cover the length of a football field with your eyes effectively closed.

Certain groups are particularly vulnerable to drowsy driving. Young adults, shift workers, commercial vehicle operators, new parents, and people with untreated sleep disorders top the list. Crashes most often occur late at night, in the early morning, or on long, monotonous stretches of road where alertness naturally dips.

“Sleep is the fuel for safe driving, and skipping it isn’t an option,” said Chad Boyles, attorney and partner at the Law Office of Chain | Cohn | Clark. “We wouldn’t let friends drive drunk. We can’t let ourselves or our loved ones drive drowsy.”

Boyles added: “If you’re not alert, you don’t get behind the wheel.”

Recognizing the symptoms is crucial. Frequent yawning, drifting from your lane, missing turns or exits, or simply not remembering the last few miles driven all signal that it’s time to stop and rest. Caffeine or blasting the radio offers only a temporary and unreliable fix. Actually stopping to nap, stretching your legs, or swapping drivers is both safer and more effective.

Here are some tips and advice on how to stay alert and safe:

• Aim for 7–9 hours of sleep nightly before long drives.
• Take breaks every two hours or 100 miles.
• Travel with a friend and switch drivers if possible.
• Recognize the warning signs: frequent yawning, drifting out of your lane, missing exits, or “zoning out.” If you experience these, pull over and rest.
• Avoid relying on caffeine or loud music as substitutes for real rest.
• Don’t drive after heavy meals or when taking medications that may cause drowsiness.
• Schedule travel so that overnight driving is limited.
• For companies, develop policies to manage shiftwork and fatigue risk.
• Make enough sleep before a road trip a non-negotiable rule, especially for parents shuttling children.

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If you or someone you know is injured in an accident at the fault of someone else, or injured on the job no matter whose fault it is, contact the attorneys at Chain | Cohn | Clark by calling (661) 323-4000, or fill out a free consultation form, text, or chat with us at chainlaw.com.