Teens in the Driver Seat

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Nighttime and Drowsy Driving

TDS RisksCombined with limited visibility and drowsiness driving at night is dangerous, especially for teens. 

Fifty-eight percent of teen crash deaths occur between 6pm and 6am1. As reported by a 2010 study by Texas A&M Transportation Institute, this is primarily due to a combination of the visibility challenges caused by dark conditions, slower response time brought about by fatigue, and a lack of experience driving under such conditions. It is largely for these reasons that most states include a nighttime driving restriction in Graduated Driver License (GDL) laws. In most states with a GDL law, the nighttime restriction and a limit on the number of passengers allowed are the most widely implemented features of that law.

The problem of visibility:

  • The average person’s field of vision is smaller without the aid of light, and glare from oncoming headlights can further limit the ability to see clearly and to avoid hazards2.
  • High Intensity lights are becoming more common. These lights are brighter to on-coming traffic and require your eyes to adjust faster3.
  • It is more difficult to judge other vehicle’s speeds and distances at night.
  • Dusk is the most dangerous time since your eyes are constantly having to adjust to more darkness4.
  • Rural roadways can be especially dangerous at night due to higher numbers of unlit roadways. In 2016, the number of people who died in a fatal crash was 2.5 times higher in rural areas than in urban areas5. 

What to do about poor visibility:

  • As always, wear your seat belt. The danger of driving at night should not be multiplied by being unsecured.
  • Keep distractions to a minimum to keep your eyes and attention on the road.
  • Turn headlights on at dusk and observe night driving safety as soon as the sun goes down3.
  • Reduce your speed and increase your following distances. Don’t overdrive your headlights. You should be able to stop inside the illuminated area. If you can’t, you are creating a blind crash area in front of your vehicle3.
  • Keep your headlights and windshield clean. A thin film of debris on your headlights can reduce your visibility significantly3.
  • If an oncoming vehicle’s lights are too high, avoid glare by watching the right edge of the road and using it as a steering guide3.
  • Have your headlights properly aimed. Misaimed headlights blind other drivers and reduce your ability to see the road3.

The problem of drowsy driving:

  • A study done by the AAA Foundation found that a person is more at risk for a crash with the less sleep they get.  A person is 12x more likely to crash if they have less than 4 hours of sleep at night4.
  • Research suggests that teens should have 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night. Most teens do not get enough sleep — one study found that only 15% reported sleeping 8 1/2 hours on school nights6.
  • Young drivers have a higher risk of falling asleep behind the wheel6.
  • Sleepiness or fatigue causes the following6:
    • Impaired reaction time, judgment, and vision
    • Problems with information processing and short-term memory
    • Decreased performance, vigilance, and motivation
    • Increased moodiness and aggressive behaviors
  • A recent study (2015) found that individuals who have slept less than 2 hours in the prior 24 hours are too sleep deprived to get behind the wheel of a vehicle7.
  • A recent survey found that teens report being “reluctant to miss out” and have an “always-on lifestyle” that can contribute to drowsy driving as they are getting less than six hours of sleep each night8.
    • 70% of teens surveyed admitted to driving tired
    • 50% reported actually falling asleep or nearly falling asleep at the wheel citing:
      • A busy schedule: 43%
      • Staying up late to do homework: 32%
      • Staying up late for social activities: 24%
      • Working late hours during the week: 20%
      • Being tired or hung over from drinking/partying the night before: 10%

What to do about drowsy driving:

  • Here are some signs of being tired and it’s time to pull over9:
    • Difficulty focusing, frequent blinking and/or heavy eyelids
    • Difficulty keeping daydreams at bay
    • Trouble keeping your head up
    • Drifting from your lane, swerving, tailgating and/or hitting rumble strips
    • Inability to clearly remember the last few miles driven
    • Missing exits or traffic signs
    • Yawning repeatedly
    • Feeling restless, irritable, or aggressive
    • Before you drive, consider whether you are9:
      • Sleep-deprived or fatigued (6 hours of sleep or less triples your risk)
      • Suffering from sleep loss (insomnia) or poor quality sleep
      • Driving long distances without proper rest breaks
      • Driving through the night or when you would normally be asleep
      • Taking medications that make you tired (cold tablets, antihistamines)
      • Studying  a lot or attending more activities than usual, which may be decreasing your sleep time
      • Drinking even small amounts of alcohol
      • Driving alone or on a long, rural, dark or boring road
    • What you can do to prevent falling asleep while driving9:
      • Get a good night’s sleep before you hit the road. You’ll want to be alert for the drive, so be sure to get adequate sleep the night before you go
      • Don’t be too rushed to arrive at your destination. Many drivers try to maximize the holiday weekend by driving at night or without stopping for breaks
      • It’s better to allow the time to drive alert and arrive alive
      • Use the buddy system. Just as you should not swim alone, avoid driving alone for long distances. A buddy who remains awake for the journey can take a turn behind the wheel and help identify the warning signs of fatigue
      • Take a break every 100 miles or 2 hours. Do something to refresh yourself like getting a snack, switching drivers, or going for a run
      • Take a nap—find a safe place to take a 15 to 20-minute nap, if you think you might fall asleep. Be cautious about excessive drowsiness after waking up
      • Avoid alcohol and medications that cause drowsiness as a side-effect
      • Avoid driving at times when you would normally be asleep
      • Consume caffeine. The equivalent of two cups of coffee can increase alertness for several hours
Sources:
    1. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 2016
    2. Texas A&M Transportation Institute
    3. National Safety Council
    4. AAA Foundation
    5. National Highway Traffic Safety, Rural/Urban Comparison of Traffic Fatalities, Traffic Safety Facts, 2016 data, https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812521
    6. National Sleep Foundation
    7. National Sleep Foundation: https://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-news/expert-consensus-panel-concludes-missing-night-sleep-renders-drivers-unfit
    8. Liberty Mutual & SADD: https://www.libertymutualgroup.com/about-lm/news/news-release-archive/articles/new-study-finds-teens-fear-of-missing-out-is-proving-to-be-dangerous
    9. DrowsyDriving.org