Drowsy drivers put themselves and other road users at risk. Fatigue affects our ability to drive by slowing reaction time, decreasing awareness and impairing judgment.
Most of us have driven tired or sleepy. Many think that just because we haven’t been drinking, we are OK to drive.
But the evidence shows that an over-tired driver can be as dangerous as a drunk.
Many who would never drink and drive think nothing of hitting the road exhausted. According to the Traffic Injury Research Foundation an alarming 20% of Canadians admit to falling asleep at the wheel at least once a year.
Canada’s official road safety agency estimates fatigue is a factor in 19% of fatal collisions and 23% of crashes where no one dies.
Since 2003 the Highway Safety Roundtable has worked with many partners to make our roads less dangerous by cutting the number of crashes caused by driver fatigue.