• 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
    • 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
    • @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
    • #BeTheChange with Tyson Dever
    • Find Speakers and Educators
    • Teens in the Driver Seat in Georgia
    • Teens in the Driver Seat in Colorado
  • Events & Contests
    • Events Calendar
    • All-Star Reward Program
      • Event / Activity Form for All-Star Points
      • TDS All-Stars Leaderboard
      • All-Stars Distractions Unit
      • All-Stars Nighttime Drowsy Driving Unit
      • All-Stars Speeding Unit
      • All-Stars Seat Belts Unit
      • All-Stars Share the Road Unit
      • All-Stars Impaired Unit
    • Big Rig Events
    • Driving the Message Contest
    • Extra Mile Senior Activity
    • 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
  • About Us
    • News
    • Contact Us
    • Where We Are and Your Regional Representative
    • Partners
    • Private Partnering Opportunities
    • Donate
    • History and Recognition
    • 20 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

August 5, 2022

Sleep Shocker!

The TDS team will conduct a poll on how many hours their peers slept the night before. The results of the poll will be displayed in the hallway to show how many “drowsy drivers” are walking the halls.

 Items Needed

  • TDS volunteers in their TDS t-shirts
  • Banner paper, bulletin board, or large poster board
  • Markers

 Steps

  1. Create the poll tallying board; it can be as large as you’d like it to be. At the top, include the question: “How many hours of sleep did you get last night?” along with columns for various hours from less than 5 to greater than 8. (see sample in photo). PRO TIP: A large tally board will get students’ attention.
  2. Decide on a day to conduct the poll. Have TDS team members man the table.
  3. Use post-its as a way to tally the board, or ask people to draw a tally mark
  4. DO NOT tell participants why you’re conducting the poll. Keep an element of surprise.
  5. The next day hang your poster results in a popular hallway or on a bulletin board, BUT incorporate Drowsy Driving messaging.
    • For example: Put a new title “Drowsy Driving is Dangerous,” “Health studies show teens should get 7-9 hours of sleep each night,” “You’re driving drowsy if you marked this column (and draw arrows to the <5 and 6 column).”
  6. Now you’ve incorporated the shock factor!
  7. Don’t forget to take pictures to send to us, post on social media and your website, and don’t forget to tag us @teensdriverseat.
  8. Complete an activity form on t-driver.com under the “Be Involved” tab to earn TDS All-Stars credit.  If in Texas, submit an affidavit or sign-in sheets as well.

Don’t Forget:

The goal is to raise awareness about how little teenagers sleep and how important it is to get sleep before getting behind the wheel.

Make it GREAT:

  • Use sleep-related cutouts, like a pillow or sheep. Have people decorate their pillow and tape it on the tallying board. Ask staff to participate as well!

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 a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Article by Andrea Chacon / Activity Categories, Nighttime and Drowsy Driving Activity Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

More Ways for Teens to Be Involved

  • Teen Advisory Board
  • Extra Mile! Senior Activity
  • You in the Driver Seat Safe Driving App
  • Teen of the Month
  • Driving the Message Poster & Video Contest
  • Take the Pledge to Keep Our Drive Alive
  • Safe Driving Summit

Copyright © 2023 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 a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)