Growing up, it was drilled into me that driving impaired is only a result of alcohol consumption or illicit drug use. We received little to no education about other contributing factors, such as fatigued driving. Car crashes due to impaired driving caused by drugs and alcohol have decreased in recent decades due to increased public awareness and punitive measures. The same cannot be said for fatigued driving, which accounts for approximately 20% of car crashes. 

The dangers of fatigued driving are not frequently discussed or explored, as the consequences of it are not seen as serious. In fact, most people will admit to many occasions where they have driven home tired after a long day at work or school. This issue is specifically difficult to address since it is completely reliant on the driver’s judgment and the current lack of punitive measures in place that define what fatigued driving is. People who are commercial drivers, night shift workers, and young drivers are even more likely to drive impaired. One in twenty-five people report falling asleep while driving, and 60% of adults report driving drowsy in the past year, according to the CDC. One in six teenage drivers has driven while they were too drowsy to keep their eyes open within the first two years of driving, according to the National Sleep Foundation. I truly believe this can all be attributed to a lack of education surrounding the risks of driving while fatigued.

A systematic review was conducted that found that fatigued driving could be as dangerous as drunk driving. A driver with 6 to 7 hours of sleep is 30% more likely to cause a crash compared to one with ≥ 8 hours of sleep. Those with 4 to 5 hours of sleep exhibit moderate impairment and are twice as likely to be involved in a car crash. Driving without sleep for ≥ 24 hours is the same as driving with a BAC level of 0.10%. The risks of driving while fatigued are not taken as seriously, and I believe that with proper education and awareness, more accidents could be prevented, and people would think twice before getting behind the wheel. Drivers need to be taught to recognize the signs of fatigued driving, such as yawning, blinking frequently, wandering or disconnected thoughts, difficulty remembering the past few miles driven, missing an exit, or drifting from a lane. Drivers should also be taught that the safest thing to do if they’re feeling tired is to pull over and sleep for 15 to 20 minutes. No destination is worth your life. 

In addition to drivers education, punitive measures should be taken to deter people from driving while fatigued. New Jersey introduced Maggie’s Law, which defined driving more than ≥ 24 hours without sleep as a form of reckless driving that can be prosecuted as vehicular homicide. Other states should also follow suit. Rules and regulations should also be updated to help protect those most at risk for fatigued driving. Currently, commercial drivers are only mandated to take a 30-minute break after 8 hours of consecutive driving. These rules should be changed to a 15-minute break every 2 to 3 hours. I think both these laws would greatly decrease the incidence of fatigued driving and crashes.

Even though the risks of impaired driving are taught in traffic courses, a virtual reality simulator highlighting the effects of delayed reaction times when driving while fatigued would also be a great addition. This model can also compare how similar driving while fatigued is to drunk driving to help put it more in perspective. People’s mindset needs to be adjusted so that fatigued driving is recognized as dangerous as drunk driving. This will hopefully allow future drivers to take as many safeguards as they do when they have been drinking. 

The number one thing we should teach drivers before they get behind the wheel is that safety is paramount. No driver should ever put themselves or others around them in danger. This is something that we can all implement daily by reminding those around us not to get behind the wheel if they’re in a state that may prevent them from operating a motor vehicle to their full ability. I try to do this by making sure I break up long drives with my friends or carpool with my coworkers if I’m working a long shift. As my dad used to say when he first taught me how to drive, safety first. Nothing is worth endangering your life or those around you, and prevention is always better than a cure.