What Is Drowsy Driving? Latest Statistics and Risk Factors

Drowsy driving occurs when fatigue impairs vehicle operation, causing around 6,726 deaths in 2021. Young males, night shift workers and those with sleep disorders face the highest risk of fatigue-related crashes.

By Nathan Paulus

Edited by Venus Zoleta

Updated: April 11, 2025

Advertising & Editorial Disclosure

A tired man yawns while driving his car.

Drowsy driving is a serious yet underreported safety risk on U.S. roads, causing an estimated 29,834 deaths between 2017 and 2021. While difficult to detect at crash scenes, fatigue substantially impairs a driver's reaction time, judgment and awareness — similar to alcohol intoxication but without comparable legal consequences or public stigma.

The problem mostly affects young men, night shift workers and people with untreated sleep disorders. Most incidents happen during overnight hours on rural roads, where long, monotonous stretches make staying alert difficult. Despite nearly one in five drivers admitting to driving while extremely tired, only two states have specific laws making drowsy driving a prosecutable offense.

In serious cases, being at fault in a drowsy driving crash can raise your car insurance costs well above the average premium, especially if your insurer considers it reckless driving.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Drowsy driving caused about 29,834 deaths over five years (2017 to 2021), with fatalities rising steadily each year.
Fatigue-related crashes typically occur between midnight and 6 a.m., often involving a single driver veering off rural roads without braking.
Men (21.1%) are more likely than women (18%) to report driving while extremely tired, with drivers under 40 facing the highest risk.
Work schedules (58%), travel and social activities (47%) and family responsibilities (34%) are the leading causes of inadequate sleep before driving.
Those at greatest risk include young males, night shift workers, commercial drivers, people with untreated sleep disorders and frequent business travelers.
Only New Jersey and Arkansas have specific laws that make driving drowsy a prosecutable offense.
Being at fault in a fatigue-related crash can greatly increase your insurance premiums and might lead to policy nonrenewal in serious cases.

What Is Drowsy Driving?

Drowsy driving occurs when a person operates a vehicle while experiencing fatigue or sleepiness, often due to inadequate rest, long hours of activity or certain medical conditions. It affects how alert a driver feels, how well they can react to road conditions and how quickly they can make decisions behind the wheel.

Sleep deprivation dulls the brain’s ability to stay focused, slows reflexes and impairs judgment — all critical for safe driving. Even a brief lapse in attention caused by fatigue can result in a serious crash, especially at high speeds or in complex traffic situations.

DROWSY DRIVING VS. OTHER RISKY DRIVING BEHAVIORS

Fatigue isn't the only threat to driver safety, but it’s one that’s often overlooked. Here's how it stacks up against other high-risk behaviors:

Drowsy driving reduces situational awareness and can cause “micro-sleeps” — brief, involuntary losses of consciousness — without the driver realizing it.
Drunk driving impairs motor control, depth perception and reaction time due to alcohol’s effects on the brain and body.
Distracted driving pulls visual, mental and physical attention away from the road (e.g., texting or adjusting GPS), often for critical seconds that count.

Fatalities Caused by Drowsy Driving

Tracking the actual impact of drowsy driving is a challenge. Because fatigue isn’t always apparent at the scene of a crash, it’s often left out of police reports. To bridge this gap, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety (AAAFTS) used in-depth crash investigations and in-vehicle camera footage to understand better how deadly drowsy driving is.

Year	Estimated Deaths	95% Confidence Interval (CI)
2017	5,773	3,985–7,561
2018	5,611	3,760–7,462
2019	5,658	3,901–7,415
2020	6,066	4,103–8,029
2021	6,726	4,578–8,873
TOTAL	29,834	20,323–39,344

Source: AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety (AAAFTS)

The numbers show a steady rise in fatalities over five years, with the highest in 2021 at about 6,726 deaths. Even the most conservative estimates point to thousands of lives lost annually due to driver fatigue. The five-year total surpasses 29,000 deaths — a stark reminder that drowsy driving remains a serious and ongoing threat on U.S. roads.

Additional estimates from the AAAFTS study show that drowsy driving becomes more prevalent as crash severity increases. Drowsiness was a factor in about 4.2% of crashes with no injuries, compared to an estimated 17.6% of fatal crashes. This pattern is clear: the more serious the crash, the more likely at least one driver involved was drowsy.

COMMON CONDITIONS IN FATIGUE-RELATED CRASHES

Fatigue-related crashes often follow a pattern. They happen late at night, typically between midnight and 6 a.m., or in the late afternoon when the body naturally feels less alert. These incidents usually involve a single driver with no passengers veering off the road at high speed without any signs of braking. They’re most commonly reported on rural roads and highways, where long, quiet stretches can make it harder to stay focused.

Drowsy Driving by Age and Sex

Drivers under 40 were the most likely to report drowsy driving in the past 30 days. Men were slightly more likely than women to admit to driving while extremely tired.

Drivers aged 19 to 39 reported the highest rates of drowsy driving in the past 30 days, exceeding the overall average of 19.5%. The likelihood declined with age, with the lowest rates reported among drivers aged 75 and older. When comparing by sex, 21.1% of men reported driving while extremely tired, compared to 18% of women.

Common Causes of Drowsy Driving

Everyday demands can affect sleep, making it harder for drivers to stay alert. Results from the National Sleep Foundation’s 2023 Drowsy Driving Survey show how common and varied the causes of driver fatigue are.

Work and school demands

Work demands, shift changes and school pressures are the main reasons adults and teens lack sleep needed for safe driving. In fact, 58% cited work or school schedules as the key reason they drove without enough rest.

Travel and social plans

Late-night events, trips or irregular routines often disrupt normal sleep patterns. Among adults who reported driving drowsy, 47% blamed travel or social activities for their sleep shortage.

Family and relationships

Family duties, parenting or other personal commitments can hurt sleep quality. The survey shows that 34% of adults named family or relationship factors as reasons they weren't well-rested before driving.

Health problems

Illness or untreated sleep disorders can also prevent good rest. Nearly one in five (18%) adults who drove while drowsy said medical problems kept them from getting enough sleep to stay alert behind the wheel.

Who Is Most at Risk for Drowsy Driving?

Some drivers face greater drowsy driving risks due to their work schedules, lifestyle or sleep patterns. Knowing these risk factors can help identify who needs extra caution behind the wheel.

1
Young male drivers
Young men under 25 have the highest risk for drowsy-driving crashes. Their limited driving experience, irregular sleep habits and lifestyle patterns increase their vulnerability.
2
Night-shift and long-hour workers
Those who work overnight shifts or more than 60 hours a week are nearly six times more likely to be involved in a drowsy-driving crash. Fatigue risk is even higher for rotating-shift workers with inconsistent sleep patterns.
3
Commercial drivers
Truck drivers and other commercial drivers spend many hours on the road, increasing their fatigue risk. They often have limited chances for proper sleep, especially when they don't get enough rest breaks.
4
People with untreated sleep disorders
Drivers with undiagnosed or unmanaged sleep conditions, especially obstructive sleep apnea, face up to seven times the accident risk. These disorders often cause daytime drowsiness even after a full night’s sleep.
5
Frequent business travelers
People who travel often for work may experience jet lag, disrupted sleep or long driving stints, all of which can impair alertness. Irregular schedules can also make it difficult to maintain consistent sleep routines.

DROWSY DRIVING LAWS IN THE U.S.

Only New Jersey and Arkansas have specific laws addressing drowsy driving as a chargeable offense. In New Jersey, “Maggie’s Law” treats driving while sleep-deprived as reckless behavior in fatal crashes, while Arkansas allows fatigue to be factored into criminal negligence.

Other states may impose license restrictions for drivers with certain untreated sleep disorders or promote awareness efforts through safety campaigns and education weeks. Despite these efforts, legal protections against drowsy driving remain limited nationwide.

Can a Drowsy Driving Accident Raise Your Car Insurance Costs?

Being at fault in a crash caused by drowsy driving can raise your car insurance rates. Even when fatigue isn't listed as the official cause in police reports, insurers focus on the damage and whether you were negligent or impaired.

In serious cases, drowsy driving may be treated like reckless driving. This can lead to big rate increases, policy cancellation or trouble getting new coverage. Commercial drivers may face worse consequences, including employer liability or job loss.

If you've been in a fatigue-related crash, contact your insurer to learn how it will affect your policy and rates.

FAQ About Drowsy Driving

Understand the basics of drowsy driving to spot risks and prevent danger. These common questions address key concerns about driving fatigue and its consequences.

What are the signs of drowsy driving?

Common signs of drowsy driving include frequent blinking, heavy eyelids and memory gaps about recent miles traveled. You may notice head nodding, lane drifting or missed exits — all warnings that fatigue is affecting your driving safety.

Why is drowsy driving dangerous?

Fatigue slows reaction time and impairs judgment, much like alcohol. Drowsy driving can cause “micro-sleeps” — brief unconscious moments that leave no time to react to sudden road hazards or traffic changes.

Which drivers face the lowest risk of drowsy driving accidents?

Drivers over 75 years old report the lowest rates of drowsy driving incidents. Those with regular sleep schedules who avoid driving between midnight and 6 a.m. and don't have untreated sleep disorders also face a much lower risk of fatigue-related crashes.

What percentage of drivers admit to driving drowsy in the past year?

Nearly one in five drivers (19.5%) admitted to driving while extremely tired in the past 30 days. The rate is higher among young adults aged 19 to 39 (28.5%) and slightly more prevalent among men (21.1%) than women (18%).

Can you get arrested for drowsy driving?

Only New Jersey and Arkansas have laws that treat drowsy driving as a specific offense, especially in serious crashes. Other states may handle fatigue-related incidents as reckless or negligent driving under current traffic laws, with penalties that vary by location.