Drowsy Driving: The Silent Risk We’re Still Ignoring

In memory of Ronshay Dugans

In 2008, 8-year-old Ronshay Dugans was killed when a school bus was struck by a driver who had fallen asleep behind the wheel. That heartbreaking crash inspired Florida’s Drowsy Driving Prevention Week, held annually during the first week of September.

But more than a decade later, we’re still not talking about this silent risk enough.

Most people think distracted driving means texting or generally on your phone—but fatigue is just another form of distraction. Worse yet, it mimics impaired driving:

• 17 hours awake = BAC of 0.05

• 20 hours awake = BAC of 0.08 (legal limit)

• 24 hours awake = BAC of 0.10

And yet, drivers continue to push through their exhaustion.

Need coffee to fuel your drowsy driving?

What Causes Driver Fatigue?

Drowsy driving isn’t just from pulling an all-nighter. It can stem from:

• Being awake too many consecutive hours

• Sleep deprivation over several days

• Long, monotonous driving routes

• Certain medications or untreated health conditions (like sleep apnea)

And fatigue affects more than just how tired you feel—it actively disrupts your ability to:

• React quickly to changes on the road

• Make safe decisions, like following speed limits or stopping at red lights

• Stay in your lane (lane departure is Florida’s #1 traffic fatality emphasis in 2024)

• Track what’s happening around you in your mirrors and blind spots

• Avoid micro-sleeps, brief episodes where your brain falls asleep for up to 30 seconds

Many drivers don’t even remember the last few miles of their trip—proof that the brain was checked out even though the car was in motion.

Who’s Most at Risk?

While drowsy driving can affect anyone, the highest-risk groups include:

• Young drivers

• Shift workers

• Commercial drivers

• People with sleep disorders

• Those consistently sleeping less than 7 hours

A 2025 National Sleep Foundation poll found that 6 in 10 adults don’t get enough sleep. In teens, healthy sleep was linked to better mental health—nearly 80% of those who practiced good sleep habits were free of significant depressive symptoms. The connection between rest and safety is real, and it's measurable.

Even more concerning? A previous NSF report found that over 1 in 5 drivers who had fallen asleep behind the wheel did so between noon and 5 p.m.—a time we don’t typically associate with sleepiness.

In the workplace, the problem is just as dangerous. A U.S. labor force survey cited by OSHA found that 37% of workers get less than 7 hours of sleep per night. That’s especially alarming when you consider that ages 25–34 account for the highest combined rate of serious injuries and fatalities on Florida roads.

This Week—and Always—Choose to Rest

Florida’s Drowsy Driving Prevention Week exists not only to educate, but to honor the life of Ronshay Dugans.

This September, how will you honor her memory?

💡 Maybe it starts with setting better sleep boundaries. 

💡 Maybe it’s skipping the late-night drive home. 

💡 Or maybe it’s finally acknowledging that pushing through fatigue doesn’t equal success—it just increases your risk.

Let’s drive awake, alert, and aware—together. 💙