Driving Sleepy is as Risky as Driving Drunk, Experts Warn

By Adebowale Bello. B.Tech Microbiology, Freelance Health Writer. Medically reviewed by the DLHA team.

December 17, 2025.

A black truck driver yawning while driving sleepy. Image credit: Freepik.

Sleep is often treated as a luxury rather than a basic need. Many people proudly say they can function on four or five hours of sleep, especially in busy cities where work, traffic and family responsibilities compete for time. When sleep is cut short, the effects show up in dangerous ways and one of the most overlooked is driving while sleepy.

Driving while sleepy does not always look dramatic. It starts with heavy eyelids, slow reactions or briefly drifting out of your lane, yet these small moments can lead to serious road crashes.

A recent survey by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine shows how common this problem is and why it should concern everyone. The findings carry important lessons for African countries where long commutes, night travel and poor sleep habits are common.

About the survey

The survey was conducted in June 2025 and involved 2,007 adults across the United States. This was an online survey and the results were self-reported. The margin of error was plus or minus two percentage points.

Participants were asked about their sleep habits and whether they had ever felt so sleepy while driving that it affected their ability to drive safely. While the survey does not measure actual crashes or injuries, it gives a clear picture of how many people recognise that sleepiness has affected their driving at some point.

What the survey found

• In simple terms, around four out of every ten adults admitted that sleepiness while driving has put them and others at risk on the road.

• Half (50%) of all men surveyed said they had experienced driving sleepy compared to one third (33%)  of women.

• Adults between the ages of 35 and 54 reported the highest levels of sleepy driving while older adults aged 65 years and above (seniors) reported the lowest rate, even with  more than a quarter of seniors reporting experiencing sleepy driving.

The findings suggest that men in their most productive years are more likely to experience sleepiness while driving or take more risks driving sleepy.

Related: Why Men Die Earlier Than Women: An African Perspective

What the survey means for Africans

Across many African countries, long hours on the road are common. In urban centres, workers often wake up very early to beat traffic or travel late at night to avoid it. Commercial drivers may drive for many hours without proper rest. Ride hailing drivers and motorcycle riders often work long shifts to earn enough income. All of these increase the risk of sleepy driving.

In many African settings, the importance of sleep to health is not commonly recognised. Lack of electricity, noise, heat and overcrowded living conditions are common place and make good sleep difficult. Some people see sleeping less as a sign of hard work or resilience. The survey challenges this mindset by showing that poor sleep has real and dangerous effects.

According to global health data, road traffic injuries are one of the leading causes of death among young adults on the African continent with a reported rate of 19.4 deaths per 100,000 population.

When driving sleepy is added to factors like speeding, poor road conditions and limited enforcement of traffic laws, the risk becomes even higher. Preventing road crashes is not only about fixing roads or enforcing laws, it is also about health and personal choices.

Why driving sleepy is so dangerous

The conditions that occur while driving sleepy are similar to driving drunk under the influence of alcohol. Reaction time slows down, attention drops, decision making becomes poor. In some cases, drivers actually fall asleep briefly without realising it. These short sleep episodes can last just a few seconds but at high speed, that is enough to cause a fatal crash.

Unlike alcohol, sleepiness is harder to measure and easier to ignore. Many drivers believe they can fight it with loud music, cold air or strong coffee. These tricks may help for a short time but they do not replace real sleep. The survey shows that many people only recognise the danger after they have already driven while impaired and this highlights the need for more awareness before accidents happen.

What you can do

• Make efforts to get enough sleep daily. Most adults need seven to nine hours of sleep each night to function well.

• Avoid undertaking long distance driving when you are already tired.

• If you or someone you know feels or looks sleepy while driving, the safest option is to stop and rest. Short naps can help but they are not a long term solution.

• Speak out in your workplace for rest time to be worked into night shifts and long work hours.

• Join others to encourage transporters especialy to prioritise rest periods for drivers.

• Also speak out in your community in support of public health campaigns to raise more awreness of the dangers of driving while sleepy as it affects many people and is not often talked about compared to driving while drunk.

Wrap Up

With four out of ten adults in a survey admitting to driving while sleepy, it is evident that the condition is common and justifies being of public health concern. For Africans battling with growing traffic, long commutes and demanding work schedules, sleep should not be seen as a luxury or a weakness; it is a basic need that protects health and saves lives. By taking sleep seriously and spreading the word about the dangers of driving while sleepy, individuals, employers, road safety officers and policymakers can help make roads safer for everyone.

Source: American Academy of Sleep Medicine Newsroom

Related:

Normal sleep: What Africans should know

Quality Sleep Helps Boost Imagination and Critical Thinking

Getting Good Sleep May Add Years to Your Life

Published: December 17, 2025

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