Motorists Warned of Drowsy Driving Risk as Daylight Saving Time Begins

Daylight Saving Time begins this Sunday, March 8, 2026, at 2 a.m., and the New York State Partnership Against Drowsy Driving (NYPDD) today warned drivers that the time change can put them at risk of drowsy driving, increasing their odds of getting in a potentially fatal crash.

The partnership is promoting a "Stay Awake! Stay Alive!" message before and after the time change to highlight the dangers of drowsy driving. It is also focusing an education campaign on young drivers and providing training for commercial vehicle drivers, which are two of the groups that are most at risk of driving while drowsy or fatigued.

According to the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), 24 hours without sleep has similar effects on driving ability as having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.10 percent. GHSA also estimates that drowsy driving is a contributing factor in 328,000 crashes nationwide annually and more than half of them involve drivers 25 years old and younger. 

Last year, 3,058 police-reported crashes in New York State involved “fatigue/drowsy driving” and/or “driver fell asleep” as contributing factors, according to preliminary statistics from the Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research (ITSMR). Of the reported crashes, five involved at least one fatality and 1,619 involved at least one injury.

"Drowsiness or fatigue can impair a driver’s judgment and slow their reaction time just like alcohol and drugs, increasing the odds of a crash,” said Mark J.F. Schroeder, NYS Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Commissioner and Chair of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC). “Drowsy drivers can also experience micro-sleep, which are short, involuntary periods of inattention. At highway speeds, just a few seconds without your eyes on the road can have tragic consequences.” 

State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “As we prepare to set our clocks forward, we must also prioritize our health and safety on the road. Even a small loss of sleep can impair reaction time, judgment and alertness. Drowsy driving can be just as dangerous as driving under the influence of alcohol. I urge all New Yorkers to get adequate rest, recognize the warning signs of fatigue and to pull over if they feel tired. Staying well-rested prevents tragedies and helps ensure everyone arrives at their destination safely.”

New York State Thruway Authority Executive Director Frank G. Hoare, Esq. said, “As we adjust to the time change with Daylight Saving Time, motorists should also be aware of the warning signs for drowsy or fatigued driving. Drowsy driving is impaired driving- it slows reaction time, impacts judgment and decreases alertness. Just one moment of inattention can have deadly consequences. We urge motorists to make safety a priority and wait to travel until they are fully rested. If someone feels tired while driving, they should take a break at one of our 27 service areas or exit the Thruway before getting back on the road.”

New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, “For many New Yorkers driving is a daily activity, but not paying attention to how you feel, or becoming distracted when you are behind the wheel, is never an option. Remember: if you feel drowsy, your driving will be lousy, and falling asleep while operating a vehicle has the potential to change your life and the lives of others on the road, permanently. An enormous thank you is due to our partners at the New York State Partnership Against Drowsy Driving for their important work in educating the public about the very real dangers of driving while drowsy.”

New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, “Many people are aware that speeding, distracted and impaired driving are dangerous behaviors with life-altering consequences. Few people realize the same risks are associated with operating a vehicle while tired or fatigued.  Drowsy driving causes needless injuries and deaths each year and it’s important know to the signs. I thank our partners at the DMV for their shared mission in making all roads safe throughout New York State.”

Hannah West, New York State Coordinator for Students Against Destructive Decisions (NY SADD), said, “Daylight Saving Time is a powerful reminder that even one hour of lost sleep can have serious consequences behind the wheel. Young drivers are especially vulnerable to drowsy driving, and through our ‘Stay Awake! Stay Alive!’ campaign and PSA Challenge, we’re empowering students to use their voices to educate their peers and help prevent tragedies before they happen.”

Lisa M. Endee, Clinical Associate Professor at Stony Brook University, said, “Sufficient and good quality sleep is essential to all aspects of health and safety. Sleep loss associated with daylight saving   time increases daytime sleepiness and the risk of experiencing drowsy driving, a serious impairment that jeopardizes both individual and public safety. Our initiatives aim to raise awareness about the signs, dangers, and prevention of drowsy driving by adding DROWSY to the other dangerous D’s of impaired driving (drunk, drugged, and distracted).”

Education Campaign

Since young drivers, ages 18-29, have the highest likelihood to drive while drowsy (71 percent) compared to other age groups, according to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), the Partnership has focused its outreach efforts on college campuses statewide. The partnership has also targeted counties where statewide crash data reflect a higher incidence of crashes in which the driver fell asleep or drowsiness or fatigue was reported as a contributing factor.

The New York State Department of Health (DOH) launched social media campaigns targeting young drivers and commercial motor vehicle drivers, “Don’t Drive Drowsy” for college students and “Stay Awake Save a Life” for commercial motor vehicle drivers. The campaign’s objective is to raise awareness and reduce  the risks of drowsy driving around Daylight Saving Time among these high-risk groups.

The NYPDD and NY Students Against Destructive Decisions (NY SADD) are again sponsoring a “Stay Awake! Stay Alive!” Public Service Announcement (PSA) Challenge for students at 24 colleges. Participants will create a 25-second video to raise awareness about drowsy driving, vying for cash awards of $2,500, $1,500, or $1,000, respectively, for first-, second- and third place.

Additional details and a link to view previous winning PSAs can be found on the SADD website. Last year’s winning PSAs are also running on screens in DMV offices and New York State Thruway rest areas.

Commercial Driver Training

Commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers are under great pressure transporting goods on time, working long hours and running tight schedules trying to meet the hard demands. Drivers are allowed to work up to14 hours, but they have a responsibility to themselves and others on the road to ensure they operate their commercial motor vehicles safely.

For this reason, DOH teamed up with the Trucking Association of New York (TANY) to develop training tools to help reduce the number of crashes involving CMV drivers. The training materials, including a 30-second video, bring attention to the signs of drowsy driving and provide safety tips to help prevent driving while drowsy. A CMV can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, and most people killed in CMV-related crashes were in passenger vehicles.

Other groups at high risk of driving while drowsy include people who work long hours or late-night shifts; people with sleep disorders; and new parents or caregivers of infants and young children.

The New York State Department of Transportation and the New York State Thruway Authority will also help raise awareness about the dangers of drowsy driving. From Friday, March 6, through Monday, March 9, variable message signs along major roadways will tell motorists to “STAY AWAKE, STAY ALIVE.”

Effects of Driving Drowsy and Prevention

Sleepiness can slow a driver’s reaction time, impair vision and judgment, and delay the processing of information, increasing the odds of a crash. Drivers should get adequate sleep before driving, take a break about every 100 miles or every two hours, and bring a passenger to help keep them awake and share the driving. Do not drink alcohol before driving, and always be aware of the potential side effects of any medications.

Common strategies to avoid drowsiness, such as opening a window, turning on air conditioning or playing loud music should not be relied upon to overcome fatigue. The safest thing to do when experiencing drowsiness while driving is to pull over and find a safe place to sleep.

For more information about the dangers of drowsy driving and strategies to avoid it, visit the GTSC’s Drowsy Driving Awareness webpage; the Stony Brook University School of Health Profession’s educational and interactive website, StopDrowsyDriving.org; the National Sleep Foundation’s Facts About Drowsy Driving, DOH’s Drowsy Driving Awareness webpage; and NHTSA’s research on drowsy driving.

About the NYPDD

Established in 2004, the NYPDD seeks to educate the public and high-risk groups about the dangers of drowsy driving and promote preventive strategies. Members include representatives from the GTSC, DOH, Thruway Authority, DOT, NYSP, the NYS Association of Chiefs of Police, the Trucking Association of New York, AAA Hudson Valley, the NYS Association of Traffic Safety Boards, NYS Sheriffs’ Association, NYS SADD and SUNY Stony Brook.

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