Highway Safety Office
DROWSY DRIVING
THE SILENT KILLER
Since 2006, Utah has averaged 1,220 crashes and 32 deaths each year from drowsy drivers. Unfortunately, these figures
may only be the tip of the iceberg, since it is currently difficult to attribute crashes to sleepiness.
2007 UTAH DROWSY DRIVING FACTS
• Young drivers age 25 or under are involved in nearly half of fall-asleep crashes.
• Male drivers were 1.8 times more likely to be in drowsy driver crashes.
• The highest number of drowsy driver crashes were between 6-8:59 a.m.
• July, June and May had the highest number of drowsy driving crashes.
• Juab, Millard, Daggett, Piute and Sevier had the highest percent of crashes involving drowsy drivers.
• Crashes in rural counties in Utah were 3.4 times more likely to involve drowsy driving than crashes in urban counties.
WARNING SIGNS
• Difficulty focusing, frequent blinking or heavy eyelids;
• Daydreaming or wandering thoughts;
• Trouble remembering the last few miles driven;
• Yawning repeatedly or rubbing your eyes;
• Trouble keeping your head up;
• Drifting from your lane, tailgating, or hitting a shoulder rumble strip;
• Feeling restless and irritable.
SPECIFIC AT-RISK GROUPS
• Young people, especially males under age 26;
• Shift workers. Working the night shift increases your risk by nearly 6 times;
• Commercial drivers. At least 15% of all heavy truck crashes involve fatigue;
• Business travelers who spend many hours driving or may be jet lagged;
• People with undiagnosed or untreated disorders. People with untreated obstructive sleep apnea
have been shown to have up to seven times increased risk of falling asleep at the wheel.
QUESTIONS?
For more information, please contact
Kristy Rigby
Occupant Protection Program Manager
Utah Highway Safety Office
(801) 957-8570