As clocks spring forward on Sunday for Daylight Saving Time, AAA is reminding drivers just how important it is to catch up on rest before getting behind the wheel. With the time change impacting sleep patterns and daylight hours, drivers may be at a greater risk of the dangers associated with drowsy driving.
There were 693 fatalities from crashes involving drowsy driving in 2022, according to the latest data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. However, official statistics on the prevalence of drowsy driving have long been underestimated given that most drivers don’t admit to being drowsy after a collision. Research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety estimates that drowsy driving is a factor in 10 times as many traffic fatalities as traditional crash data indicates.
Drowsy driving crashes occur most frequently between midnight and 6 a.m. or in the late afternoon, when people experience dips in their circadian rhythm. These crashes often involve only a single driver with no passengers.
To protect yourself and others, AAA recommends drivers commit to the following safe driving practices.
- Stay alert and rested: Ensure you get enough sleep before driving. Drowsy driving can be as dangerous as driving under the influence, so drivers should travel at times of the day when they are normally awake whenever possible.
- Avoid distractions: Drivers should not use a cellphone while behind the wheel; the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety’s annual Traffic Safety Culture Index found 93% of drivers recognize the dangers of texting, emailing and reading while driving, according to a AAA study, but 37% also reported reading a text/email while driving in the previous 30 days. Stow your smartphone away, turn it to airplane mode or activate call/text blocking features like “do not disturb.”
- Obey speed limits: Speeding significantly increases the severity of a crash. Nearly half of drivers (49%) admitted to going 15 mph over the posted speed limit on a freeway at least once in the past 30 days, while 36% of drivers reported driving 10 mph over the posted speed limit on a residential street.
- Drive sober: 95% of drivers perceive drunk driving as dangerous and socially unacceptable. Yet 7% admitted engaging in this behavior in the previous 30 days. If you consume cannabis or alcohol, then don’t drive. If you are taking potentially impairing prescription medications, discuss with your doctor or pharmacist how best to stay safe and healthy behind the wheel.
- Buckle up for every ride. It does not matter where in the vehicle you are seated. A properly worn seat belt is the most effective way to survive a traffic crash. Don’t forget passengers, especially children: A 2024 AAA analysis of five years of government crash data revealed that child safety seat and booster use declines after a child turns 3. Find child passenger safety resources by state, including how to get a car seat checked, occupant protection laws. and answers to car seat questions.
State Crash Data:
In Massachusetts, between 2022 and 2024, there were 5,200 crashes where police indicated that either drowsiness, fatigue or a driver falling asleep was a contributing factor, according to the state’s IMPACT crash data portal.
In Connecticut, between 2022 and 2024, there were 3,788 crashes involving an asleep or fatigued driver, according to the Connecticut Crash Data Repository. Of those crashes,1,370 resulted in injuries and six were fatal.
In New York, between 2022 and 2024, there were over 14,000 crashes in which either fatigue, drowsiness or a driver falling asleep was a contributing factor, according to state crash data. Of those crashes, 35 resulted in a fatality and over 5,000 resulted in an injury.
In New Jersey, since 2022, there were over 4,000 crashes in which a driver was drowsy or fatigued, according to state crash data. Five of the crashes resulted in a fatality and over 1,700 led to an injury.
