Stay alert and don’t drive drowsy

Grogginess, yawning, sluggishness — they’re all signs of fatigue. 

That fatigue can make it harder to get through a workday, and your motor skills can be impaired. If you drive while drowsy, it could result in a crash. So during Drowsy Driving Prevention Week, which runs Nov. 2-8, we’re reminding drivers to get adequate rest before driving. 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drowsy driving crashes occur most frequently between midnight and 6 a.m. or in the late afternoon, and these types of crashes frequently occur on rural roads and highways. 

In 2024, there were 1,595 drivers involved in crashes on Arizona roads that either fell asleep or were fatigued, according to crash reports from law enforcement agencies and compiled by ADOT. Of those, 10 drivers were involved in fatal crashes. These are preventable crashes and deaths. 

Getting adequate sleep and rest, not drinking alcohol before driving, and avoiding driving during peak sleepiness hours (midnight to 6 a.m.) are all things motorists can do to prevent drowsy driving. 

If you are out on the state highways, you might notice some of our overhead message boards displaying a traffic safety message encouraging drivers to not drive drowsy and stay alert. We hope these messages help start important conversations about traffic safety and ultimately help drivers make better choices behind the wheel.