Drowsy Driving Warning Signs and What to Do

You miss an exit you know well. A few miles later, you realize you barely remember the stretch you just drove. On a long trip or a familiar commute, these lapses can be easy to brush off. Along with heavy eyelids and repeated yawning, they can signal that sleepiness is interfering with your driving.

The safest response is to get off the road at the next safe place. It helps to decide ahead of time where you could stop, who could take over, and what you would do if you were still too sleepy to continue.

Notice changes in how you drive

Sleepiness can show up in your eyes, your attention, or the position of your car. You might blink more often, struggle to focus on the road, or catch yourself rubbing your eyes. You may have trouble keeping your head up. Missing a sign or forgetting the last few miles can be a clue that your attention has already slipped.

Pay particular attention if you drift toward a lane marker or feel the tires vibrate on a rumble strip. You do not need several warning signs before you act. If a passenger points out that you are drifting or asks whether you are falling asleep, use that as a reason to stop rather than waiting to see whether it happens again.

For a related guide, read Does Sleep Change as You Age? What to Expect and When to Seek Help.

Stop somewhere safe and decide how to continue

Look for the next safe place to get fully out of traffic, such as a designated rest area or a parking lot off an exit. If another licensed, rested driver is with you, switch once you are parked. If you are alone, tell anyone expecting you that you will be late after you have stopped.

A short nap at a safe stop can help temporarily. NHTSA notes that caffeine combined with a short nap may briefly improve alertness, but caffeine alone can leave you feeling more awake than you really are. If your eyes still feel heavy or you have trouble focusing after the stop, stay off the road. You can arrange a ride, wait for a rested driver, or end the trip for the day. Build those options into your plan so that continuing to drive does not feel like the only choice.

Leave room in your plans for sleep

Getting adequate sleep before driving is the main protection. For a long trip, consider whether an early departure would cut short the previous night's sleep. If you need to be somewhere early, leaving the day before or arranging a ride may make more sense than planning to wake well before your usual time. Plan stopping points before leaving so you can pull off without having to search while tired.

NHTSA identifies midnight to 6 a.m. and late afternoon as periods when drowsy-driving crashes are most common. Sleepiness can still occur at other times. If you have just worked a long or overnight shift, think about the trip home before your shift begins. A backup ride is easier to arrange in advance than when you are already struggling to stay awake.

Check what else could make you sleepy

Avoid alcohol before driving. Review medication labels for warnings about drowsiness or driving, including on over-the-counter products. If the instructions are unclear, ask a pharmacist or clinician how they apply. If a medication can make you sleepy, arrange another way to travel and ask the prescriber about your options before changing how you take it.

If you often feel sleepy during the day despite allowing enough time for sleep, or you have repeated near misses behind the wheel, discuss the pattern with a clinician. Note when the sleepiness occurs, how much sleep you got the night before, and any recent changes in medicines or work hours. Until you have a safe plan, arrange another way to get where you need to go when you feel drowsy.

For a related guide, read Alcohol and Sleep: Why Feeling Sleepy Is Not the Same as Resting Well.