New Study Reveals High Incidence of "Drowsy Driving" Among Teens

A new study from the U.S. National Sleep Foundation says approximately one in six teen drivers reported having driven drowsy. The majority of teens said their work or school schedules prevented them from getting adequate sleep, and teens with jobs were more than twice as likely to have driven drowsy than teens without jobs.

“Driving drowsy” means driving while feeling very tired or sleepy. When a driver is sleep-deprived, their attention and focus diminish, and they become more easily distracted. They may even experience microsleeps—brief episodes of falling asleep that last a few seconds. This reduced alertness slows the driver’s reaction time, making it harder to avoid hazards on the road. Not getting enough sleep is also associated with poorer decision-making, which can increase risky behavior while driving.



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