Many people don’t feel like they’re endangering themselves or anyone else when they get sleepy behind the wheel, but the truth is it can be just as dangerous as driving drunk. Just like drunk driving, drowsy driving can impair your judgment, slow your response time and decrease your awareness.
As this article from Psychology Today points out, “We’re generally not at all good at accurately gauging our own sleepiness, tending to overestimate our ability to focus and underestimate levels of fatigue.”
Those who are at an increased risk for driving drowsy include:
- People who get 5 hours of sleep (or less) per night
- Young male drivers (ages 17-23)
- Adults with children in their households
- People with sleep disorders, including sleep apnea and acute insomnia
- Commercial drivers and shift workers
- People taking medications that can cause drowsiness
Continue reading to find out more statistics on drowsy driving and how to avoid it.