Each year in the U.S., approximately 100,000 police-reported crashes involve a drowsy driver, resulting in over 1,500 deaths
. More detailed data from 2017 to 2021 shows that drowsy driving was involved in about 17.6% of all fatal crashes, accounting for nearly 30,000 deaths over that five-year period
. In 2022 alone, there were around 693 deaths attributed to drowsy driving
. Drowsy driving crashes are estimated to cause roughly 1.4% to 2.5% of all crashes and fatalities, with fatigue-related collisions costing society over $100 billion annually
. The risk is especially high during late-night and early-morning hours, with many crashes involving a single driver veering off rural roads without braking
. In summary:
- About 100,000 crashes annually involve drowsy drivers in the U.S.
- These crashes cause roughly 1,500 deaths per year on average
- Fatal crashes involving drowsy driving represent about 17.6% of all fatal crashes
- Nearly 30,000 deaths occurred in a recent five-year span due to drowsy driving
This makes drowsy driving a significant and deadly factor in U.S. traffic accidents.
