• Know the Risks
    • Teen Driver Risks
      • Distracted Driving
      • Nighttime and Drowsy Driving
      • Speeding and Street Racing
      • Low Safety Belt Use
      • Impaired Driving
    • Teen Passenger Risks
      • Keep the Driver Distraction Free
      • Help Keep the Driver Alert and Awake at Night
      • Know Why Speeding is Dangerous and Reckless
      • Always Wear a Seat Belt
      • Steer Clear of Impaired Drivers
    • Respect the Rig Truck and Bus Safety
      • Big Rig Events
      • Order a Respect the Rig Community Toolkit
    • Rail Safety
    • Pedestrian & Bicycle Safety
    • External Links and Resources
  • Be Involved
    • Learn How to Start TDS
    • Sign Up Your School / Request Virtual Access
    • Event / Activity Form for All-Star Points
    • Order a Respect the Rig Community Toolkit
    • @TeensDriverSeat Takeover
    • Be a Teen Influencer
    • Apply to Be a Teen Advisory Board Member
    • Take the Pledge to Keep Our Drive Alive
    • Find Your Regional Representative
  • Take Action
    • Get Activity Ideas
    • Download Activity Items, Posters, and More
    • See and Share Videos
    • Ride With Me @ Home – Parent Information
    • #BeTheChange with Tyson Dever
    • Find Speakers and Educators
    • Teens in the Driver Seat in Georgia
      • California & Georgia Pedal Kart, Trike, and Drunk Mat Resources
    • Teens in the Driver Seat in Colorado
  • Events & Contests
    • TDS 2021-22 Calendar
    • All-Star Reward Program
      • TDS All-Star Rules
      • Event / Activity Form for All-Star Points
    • Big Rig Events
    • Driving the Message Contest
    • Extra Mile Senior Activity
    • Ride With Me Junior High
    • Safe Driving Summit, 2021
    • Social Media Teen Influencer
    • SponStar Awards
      • Teacher Discounts
    • Teen Advisory Board
      • Teen Advisory Board Application
    • Teen of the Month
    • Track-A-Thon Contest
    • Zero Hero
  • You in the Driver Seat App
    • April Contest for App Users
  • About Us
    • News
    • Contact Us
    • Where We Are and Your Regional Representative
    • Partners
    • Private Partnering Opportunities
    • Donate
    • History and Recognition
    • 15 Year Report Card
  • Login

Teens in the Driver Seat

A peer-to-peer safe driving program for your school.

Text iDrive to 1-888-825-1346 for TDS and safety text messages.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Help Keep the Driver Alert and Awake at Night

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

Forty-eight percent (48%) of teen crash deaths occur between 6 pm and 6 am1. As reported by a 2010 study by Texas A&M Transportation Institute, this is mostly because it’s harder to see at night, teens are driving while tired, they are new to driving and as a result don’t have a lot of driving experience. This is why most states don’t allow new drivers to drive late at night.

What happens to our vision at night:

  • 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 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.

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 so the driver can keep their eyes and attention on the road.
  • Make sure the driver turns the headlights on at dusk and observes night driving safety as soon as the sun goes down4.
  • Alert the driver if the headlights and/or windshield are dirty. A thin film of dirt on the headlights can reduce visibility3.
  • Make sure the headlights are properly aimed. Unaligned headlights blind other drivers and reduce the driver’s ability to see the road4.

As it gets dark outside and gets harder to see:

  • Ask the driver if the headlights are on.
  • Keep your eyes open and help the driver watch the road.
  • If the driver seems to be driving too fast, remind them that they should be able to stop inside the headlights illuminated area4.

The problem of drowsy driving:

  • 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.
  • 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 12 times more likely to crash if they have less than 4 hours of sleep at night3.
  • Young drivers have a higher risk of falling asleep behind the wheel7.
  • Sleepiness or fatigue causes the following7:
    • Impaired reaction time, judgment, and vision
    • Problems with information processing and short-term memory
    • Decreased performance, vigilance, and motivation
    • Increased moodiness and aggressive behaviors
  • Make sure the driver is alert. Just like drugs or alcohol, sleepiness slows reaction time, decreases awareness, and impairs judgment. Just like alcohol, sleepiness can be fatal when driving4.

If the driver is having a hard time staying awake:

  • Talk to him or her. Just as you should not swim alone, drivers should avoid driving alone for long distances. You can help by staying awake for the journey and help identify the warning signs of fatigue.
  • Turn on the radio and maybe even sing along with the music together.
  • Recommend that the driver stop and walk around or get something to eat or drink.
  • Watch for these signs of the driver being tired and ask to pull over7:
    • Difficulty focusing, frequent blinking and/or heavy eyelids
    • Trouble keeping his/her head up
    • Drifting across the lane, swerving, tailgating and/or hitting rumble strips
    • Missing exits or traffic signs
    • Yawning repeatedly
    • Acting restless, irritable, or aggressive

Sources:

  1. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 2021.  Teen Fatality Facts 2019 https://www.iihs.org/topics/fatality-statistics/detail/teenagers
  2. AAA Foundation
  3. National Safety Council
  4. National Sleep Foundation
  5. National Sleep Foundation: https://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-news/expert-consensus-panel-concludes-missing-night-sleep-renders-drivers-unfit
  6. DrowsyDriving.org

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Read About all Passenger Risks

  • Keep the Driver Distraction Free
  • Help Keep the Driver Alert and Awake at Night
  • Know Why Speeding is Dangerous and Reckless
  • Always Wear a Seat Belt
  • Steer Clear of Impaired Drivers

Be involved - sign up now

  • Save a Life logo
  • USDOT logo
  • GDOT_sponsors_footer
  • GM_sponsors_footer
  • Union Pacific logo
  • State Farm logo
  • Colorado Department of Transportation logo
  • HGAC logo
  • Drive Smart Nebraska logo
  • Wyoming
  • WA Target Zero

Copyright © 2022 Texas A&M Transportation Institute

All rights reserved. Privacy Policy.
Comments, suggestions or queries? Contact Us!


Youth Transportation Safety Program
c/o Texas A&M Transportation Institute
1100 NW Loop 410, Ste 605, San Antonio, TX 78213-2255
Ph: (210) 979-9411
Fax: (210) 321-1299

TTI Logo

Texas A&M University System
3135 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-3135
Ph: (979) 845-9008
Fax: (979) 845-9848

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.