Drowsy Driving Doesn't Start Behind the Wheel

November is here, and it brings with it an extra hour of sleep and the official (in my opinion) start of the holiday season. As we adjust to the time change and gear up for celebrations, now is the perfect time to remind yourself to stay safe and help prevent a significant and often underestimated roadway safety risk: drowsy driving.  

According to a 2024 AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study, an estimated 17.6% of fatal crashes between 2017 and 2021 involved a drowsy driver. Fatigue can impair reaction time, judgment and attention, increasing the likelihood of errors on the road. It is an issue with strong ties to the workplace as well. Each year, Drowsy Driving Prevention Week serves as a reminder that preventing fatigue-related crashes starts long before someone gets behind the wheel. For millions of workers, it can build throughout the workday, shaped by long shifts, demanding schedules and insufficient time to recover. It also impacts the company bottom line, with costs associated with absenteeism, reduced productivity and health care.  

For safety professionals, this raises an important question: Are we doing enough to address the workplace conditions that contribute to fatigue before employees head home? 

From Awareness to Action: What Employers Can Do

Drowsy Driving Prevention Week provides an opportunity for organizations to look more closely at how fatigue is being addressed within their existing safety programs. A few practical steps can make a meaningful difference. 

1. Look at scheduling as a safety consideration 
Employers should evaluate whether existing scheduling practices provide employees adequate opportunities for rest, particularly in safety-sensitive roles. The NSC Fatigue at Work Employer Toolkit includes educational materials, safety talks and guidance to support fatigue risk management. 

2. Help supervisors recognize and respond to fatigue 
Supervisors play an important role in identifying fatigue-related risks before they contribute to an incident. Training should address common warning signs, how to have supportive conversations with employees and what steps to take when someone may be too fatigued to work or drive safely. The NSC Impairment Recognition and Response Training for Supervisors is a one-hour e-learning course that equips supervisors with the knowledge and skills to recognize and respond to workplace impairment, including impairment caused by fatigue. 

3. Make it easier for employees to speak up 
Workers may hesitate to report fatigue because they fear disciplinary action, lost wages or being perceived as unable to perform their jobs. Establishing clear reporting procedures and a supportive safety culture can help employees raise concerns before a dangerous situation develops. 

4. Integrate wellbeing more broadly into your workplace safety program  
The NSC Workplace Wellbeing Hub provides a broader framework for integrating wellbeing-related risk factors, such as fatigue, into workplace safety practices. Looking ahead, NSC plans to launch an expanded fatigue section of its Workplace Wellbeing Hub in March 2027, featuring updated guidance, practical tools and educational resources to help employers better identify, prevent and manage fatigue-related risks. 

Together, these resources can help employers move beyond simply reminding workers to get enough sleep and toward implementing workplace practices that support alertness, safe decision-making and injury prevention. 

Extend Safety Conversations Beyond the Worksite

Fatigue is only one factor that influences roadway safety. Organizations can reinforce overall safe driving practices by: 

• Encouraging employees to check their vehicles for open recalls at CheckToProtect.org and get them repaired 
• Implementing a distraction-free driving policy that outlines the dangers of using a phone or infotainment system while behind the wheel 
• Requiring employees to wear seatbelts and following speed limits  
• Reminding employees about the dangers of impaired driving both on and off the job. 

At the National Safety Council, we’re focused on helping employers take action to prevent more injuries and save more lives. Fatigue is one risk employers can address now, keeping people safe at work and on the road.

As we head into the holiday season remember that safe driving starts long before we get behind the wheel.