Time Change & Dangers of Drowsy Driving

By The Cagle Law Firm | November 3, 2025 | Car Accidents, Featured, Inattentiveness, News

Drowsy driving is not just labeled “lousy driving”, but often has the same outcomes.  The amount of motor vehicle incidents caused by drowsy driving in under reported according to experts. As our daylight hours shorten going into winter months, it can be difficult on your circadian rhythm.  Or maybe you are one of the many Americans who simply don’t get enough sleep because of  work, family and social commitments in your life.

An overall solution to the issue of drowsy driving would involve an overall to our societal norms and attitudes about drowsy driving.  Challenging economic situations increase our stress levels and possibly pursuits for second jobs.  However, in a blog post, we cannot single-handedly overall societal norms-just contribute.

Our goal is to remind you of the danger of drowsy driving and how you can be putting yourself and your family at risk.  Let’s be honest, all of us have driven when we are exhausted.  Many people operate so much of their entire day exhausted that they don’t even realize that it is impacting their driving.  People who work long hours, multiple jobs, have small children and many family commitments, it can be really hard to get needed sleep.

While you may have numerous family and work commitments, your family and employer/business need you to commute safely.  If you don’t arrive at your destinations safely, then the costs to your family is even greater.

How Many Drowsy Driving Crash Deaths Are There?

It is difficult to determine the precise number of fatal crashes caused by drowsy driving.  In many car crash scenarios, it is hard to know if the driver was drowsy.  There is not a blood test for drowsiness like there is for alcohol.  According to the NHTSA’s census of fatal crashes, researches state that they must rely on police and hospitals to report incidence of drowsy-driving crashes.  In 2017, 91,000 police-reported crashes involved drowsy drivers.  These crashes led to an estimated 50,000 people injured and nearly 800 deaths.  There is broad agreement among traffic safety experts, sleep science and public health communities that the incidence of drowsy driving is very much underestimated. According to more recent NHTSA data, there were 633 deaths from drowsy driving in 2023.

Driving Behaviors that Signal Drowsy Driving

When you find yourself frequently yawning, heavy eyelids or eye blinking as well as a difficulty focusing, you need a break.  If you are watching a car that you think has a drowsy driver behind the wheel, it can be confusing. When they drift into other lanes, hit rumble strips, have erratic braking and so one, it is easy to think they must just be on their phone.  How many times have we experienced this in traffic?  When someone is driving erratically, it is hard to know if they have been drinking, are engaged in distracted driving, drowsy or simply not paying attention.

If you find that you are having a hard time focusing, heavy eyelids, miss exits and road signs, or really don’t remember the last few miles of your drive–you might need to pull over.  It happens.  It is difficult when you have worked long hours and just want to get home to your family and your own bed.  We have all been there.    Experts make a lot of recommendations. Of course, it depends on if you are on a long trip or simply trying to cross town to get home.

Experts recommend that if you are having a hard time with drowsy driving that you can take some steps immediately:

Pull Over–Pulling over can be hard depending on where you are.  Finding a well list, SAFE place away from traffic is important.  Possibly a well-lit parking lot.  DO NOT STOP ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROADWAY

Nap:  Take a 15-20 minute nap to help restore alertness.  Set an alarm on your cell phone so you don’t sleep too long

Drink Caffeine:  Have a caffeinated drink like coffee.  It is important to remember that caffeine is a temporary measure and not a substitute for sleep.  The effects will wear off.

Get Fresh Air: Open the windows and step outside for a few minutes-stretch your legs.  Since the weather is quite chilly, rolling your windows down while driving will raise your level of awareness.

Long Term Prevention:

Prioritize Sleep: Get adequate sleep before a long trip

Plan Your Route:  Schedule breaks every two hours or 100 miles

Travel with a Companion: Driving with an alert passenger who can take turns driving

Avoid Certain Medications: Check warning labels for medications that cause drowsiness and avoid driving after you take them.  Colder weather drives more people inside and we know, that is when viruses such as colds are spread.  If you are taking any kind of cold relief medication, monitor your alertness

Avoid alcohol and heavy meals.  Of course, never drive after drinking alcohol.  Avoid heavy meals before a trip.

Fatigued Driving can be every bit as dangerous as drunk, drugged and distracted driving.  Traditionally, we think of fatigued driving having mostly at night.  According to to an Automobile Association survey in September 2024, 1 in 4 drivers feels tired while driving after a long or hard day of work.  The 2nd and 3rd most common causes of tired driving were the monotony of the journey (20% of drivers surveyed) and trying to cover too much distance in one driver (19% of drivers surveyed.

Driver Fatigue vs. Being Tired

It is one thing to climb behind the wheel and start driving if you haven’t slept in awhile. Drive fatigue can also creep up on you through the course of driving for long periods.  Driving requires continuous focus and concentration which can wane over time. Thus, it is critical that you take breaks the same way you would while working.  Starting a long drive when you are already tired is kind of like having a couple of cocktails and then drive. At the start, you know that you might be compromised.  Typically, drowsy drivers hurt themselves as well as others when they are involved in a crash.  Head-on crashes can easily occur when a driver begins to nod off. Head-on collisions are often catastrophic if not fatal.

Drive Safe

Keeping yourself and others safe on the roadway requires that you concentrate and pay attention.  A crash can occur in a second.  Long hours behind the wheel are exhausting and many of us simply work too many hours a day so we are kind of tired everywhere we go. If you are impaired due to fatigue the catastrophic results can be the same as drunk driving or distracted driving.  Taking your attention off the road endangers you and others.  If you see other motorists swerving, drifting lanes, braking abruptly, we recommend getting out of their way.  Granted, that does not seem really high tech but when we see someone driving erratically, we pull back so we don’t get hit by the debris when they crash. However, that is not helpful for oncoming traffic.  If someone is driving dangerously, you may want to report it via 911.  It is not fun to call the police on an erratic driver.  Depending on how erratic the driving, it may be the only considerate option for others on the roadway.

If You Have Been in a Car Accident

If you have been in a car accident caused by a driving error of someone else, you will need a lawyer. Specifically, if you are injured, you will need an attorney.  If you are not hurt, then you simply have a property damage claim. Yes, it will be a pain in the rear. If you are injured and require medical treatment, then you will want an attorney because insurance adjusters are not good with bodily injury.

Call us toll free 1.800.685.3302 or locally 314.276.1681

About The Author

The Cagle Law Firm

View all posts by The Cagle Law Firm →