42 Drowsy Driving Statistics To Pay Attention To

1 in 25 adult drivers has fallen asleep at the wheel.

Drowsy driving is responsible for over 20% of crash-related fatalities.

Approximately 6,400 people die from drowsy driving crashes each year.

Driving after only three to four hours of sleep shows similar impairments and crash risk to drunk driving.

66% of men have driven drowsy compared to 54% of women.

People who make less than $50K report more illness or medical problems to explain why they’re not able to get enough sleep and drive alert.

People who make above $100K annually report travel and social reasons for driving drowsy more than half the time, compared to just 38% of those making less than $50K.

Only two states in the United States have laws that specifically mention drowsy driving: Arkansas and New Jersey.

Mississippi has the highest rate of crash fatalities by population and miles traveled.

Washington, D.C., and Alaska have the lowest number of crash fatalities.

California and Texas have the highest number of crash fatalities.

Five states had no fatalities from large truck crashes in 2023.

52% of nationwide vehicle crash fatalities in 2023 were from single-vehicle crashes.

Utah had the lowest fatality rate for single-vehicle crashes at 46% and the highest for multi-vehicle crashes at 54%.

Hawaii had the highest fatality rate for single-vehicle crashes at 71% but the lowest fatality rate for multi-vehicle crashes at 29%.

Drowsy driving crashes most often involve a single driver running off the road at a high speed with no evidence of braking.

Drowsy-driving crashes are most likely to happen on highways and rural roads.

72% of Americans have told another person that they’re too tired to drive, and 78% have told someone they're too drunk.

61% of adults with narcolepsy or idiopathic hypersomnia have had an accident or near-miss due to drowsy driving.

Chronic fatigue has been shown to impact decision-making in drowsy drivers.

A break with caffeine is more effective than one without, but it still only improves alertness for a short period of time.

Commercial drivers are at a higher risk of drowsy driving crashes and sleep disorders.

Drivers ages 65+ have the highest risk of serious injury in single-vehicle drowsy driving crashes.

The most common drowsy driving, single-vehicle accidents are overturned vehicles.

Both teens and adults think drowsy driving is the least risky activity out of drunk, drugged, and distracted.

Motor vehicle crash fatalities increase by 12% in the five weeks after spring daylight saving time.

Of the risk factors for drowsy driving crashes, microsleeps are the most difficult to predict.

There are an average of 328,000 crashes each year involving a drowsy driver.

Nearly 110,000 crash injuries occur each year due to drowsy driving.