Most of us wouldn’t dream of driving home after a few drinks, but how many times have we climbed behind the wheel while running on just a few hours of sleep? If you’ve ever thought, “I’ll be fine,” here’s a wake-up call: driving tired is just as risky as driving drunk.
We’ve talked about fatigue behind the wheel before—so much so that we’ve even created a training module on it. But a study1 takes the conversation further, comparing sleep deprivation to intoxication, and the results are alarming.
Missing just one to two hours of sleep almost doubles your risk of a crash compared to a well-rested driver.
Short two to three hours? That puts you at the same risk level as someone who’s legally drunk.
Let that sink in for a moment.
For those of us who are chronically sleep-deprived—getting less than the recommended seven hours of sleep a night—this is sobering news. Fatigue doesn’t just affect your energy levels; it messes with your brain’s ability to process information and respond to danger, making you a hazard on the road.
Signs you’re too tired to drive
Not sure if fatigue is affecting your driving? Watch out for these red flags:
- Struggling to keep your eyes open or blinking excessively.
- Drifting between lanes or veering off the road.
- Not remembering the last few kilometers you’ve driven (or how you got there).
- Inconsistent speeds—speeding up and slowing down unnecessarily.
- Delayed reactions—failing to respond in time to avoid danger.
What Can You Do?
The first step is recognising when you’re too tired to drive. Pull over and take a break, grab a coffee, or better yet, plan ahead so you’re not driving when you should be sleeping.
Learn more about how fatigue affects your driving and what steps you can take to stay safe by exploring Fleetcoach’s fatigue module.
1 Study conducted by AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, USA
