Most drivers understand the dangers of getting behind the wheel after drinking. But what about driving while drowsy?
Research shows that fatigue can impair your judgment, reaction time, and coordination just as severely as alcohol can. And yet, drowsy driving remains one of the most overlooked causes of serious crashes in Connecticut and across the country.
As Rebecca Weast, a research scientist at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), recently shared in a personal essay, fatigue can creep up on anyone. Weast recalled dozing off for just a moment while driving with her learner’s permit. It was long enough to nearly hit a mailbox. Like many drivers, she didn’t realize she had fallen asleep until it was almost too late.
That near miss reveals a sobering truth: even a few seconds of inattention caused by fatigue can have catastrophic results.
Drowsy driving impairs like alcohol does
According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, being awake for 17 hours is roughly equivalent to driving with a 0.05% blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Stay awake for 24 hours, and your impairment is similar to a 0.10% BAC — above the legal limit in most states.
Just like drunk drivers, fatigued drivers react more slowly, have trouble focusing, and may fail to recognize hazards in time to avoid a crash. In fact, one naturalistic driving study estimated that drowsiness is a factor in up to 9–10% of all crashes, far higher than police reports suggest.
What makes fatigue especially dangerous is its stealth. Drivers often experience “micro-sleeps,” which are involuntary moments of nodding off that last just a few seconds. On a highway, a few seconds is enough to travel the length of a football field without control of the vehicle.
Common causes of fatigued driving
Despite knowing the risks, many people don’t get enough sleep. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that over 30% of adults get less than 7 hours of sleep per night. Shift workers, young drivers, and parents of young children are particularly vulnerable.
Tips to avoid drowsy driving
You can’t always control your schedule, but you can take practical steps to protect yourself and others before getting behind the wheel:
- Get enough sleep. Aim for at least 7 hours of sleep each night. Teens and young adults need even more.
- Plan breaks for long trips. Stop every two hours or 100 miles, even if you don’t feel tired.
- Use rest areas. If you’re feeling sleepy, pull over at a safe, legal location for a short nap; even 15-20 minutes can help.
- Avoid driving late at night. Most fatigue-related crashes occur between midnight and 6 a.m.
- Don’t rely on myths. Rolling down the window, blasting music, or drinking caffeine (e.g., coffee and energy drinks) are short-term fixes that may not prevent you from nodding off.
- Use available technology. Many newer vehicles have lane-departure warnings, driver-monitoring cameras, and alerts that can warn you when you’re drifting or losing focus.
How an attorney can help if you're injured in an accident
At the Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone & Morelli, our Hartford car accident lawyers have seen the devastating consequences of fatigue-related crashes in Connecticut. No technology or quick fix can replace a fully awake driver, and anyone responsible for hurting someone else in a preventable crash needs to be held accountable.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a crash caused by a negligent driver — whether they were fatigued, impaired, distracted, or speeding — our attorneys are here to help you pursue the maximum compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation. We offer legal representation to crash victims on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no upfront costs, and you pay nothing unless we win your case.
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