Driving while fatigued puts you and others at serious risk. Drowsy driving doesn’t just mean you feel tired—it weakens your focus, slows your reaction time, and leads to poor decisions on the road.
Knowing how fatigue affects your driving helps you avoid preventable accidents and stay safe behind the wheel.
How sleep deprivation mimics alcohol impairment
Driving drowsy affects your brain like alcohol does. After 18 hours without sleep, your impairment is similar to a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.05%. If you stay awake for 24 hours, your impairment resembles a BAC of 0.10%, which is over the legal limit in Georgia.
Fatigue makes it harder to concentrate and delays your reflexes. Even a second’s hesitation behind the wheel can keep you from stopping in time or reacting to sudden changes in traffic.
Warning signs you shouldn’t ignore
You can’t rely on willpower to fight off fatigue. If you’re too tired, your brain may slip into micro-sleeps—brief periods where you nod off for a few seconds. That’s all it takes to miss a stop sign or swerve into another lane.
Watch for signs like frequent yawning, heavy eyelids, lane drifting, or difficulty keeping your eyes open. If you notice any of these, you’re no longer driving safely.
High-risk groups and driving patterns
Some people face a higher risk of drowsy driving. If you work night shifts, drive commercial vehicles, have untreated sleep disorders, or frequently take long road trips, you’re more vulnerable.
Fatigue-related crashes often happen late at night or early in the morning. These hours increase your risk because of reduced light, less traffic, and your body’s natural drive to sleep.
Taking fatigue seriously saves lives
The best way to prevent drowsy driving is to get enough sleep before hitting the road. If you’re driving long distances, take breaks often. And if you start to feel tired, pull over and rest or find another way to get home. You protect yourself and everyone else by making alert driving your priority.