In advance of Drowsy Driving Prevention Week, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Highway Safety Network are reminding motorists to get enough rest before driving.
Daylight Saving Time ends at 2:00 AM on Sunday, November 2, 2025, and all clocks will be set back by one hour. The time change can potentially affect an individual’s sleep cycle and increase the likelihood of feeling drowsy or falling asleep while driving.
“What many drivers do not realize is the effects of fatigue can often times resemble what someone experiences while under the influence of drugs or alcohol,” said Mike Tautin, a Community Traffic Safety Project Coordinator with the Highway Safety Network. “Being overly tired can negatively affect a driver’s reaction time, judgment, attention, and vision. All of these increase your chances of being involved in a crash, but are easily avoidable with proper rest.”
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) says being awake for 17 consecutive hours has a level of impairment equivalent to a 0.05 BAC (blood alcohol content), while 24 consecutive hours is equivalent to a 0.10 BAC.
According to PennDOT data, there were 2,612 crashes in Pennsylvania in 2024 involving a drowsy or asleep driver, resulting in 15 fatalities. Of those crashes, 115 of them were recorded in PennDOT’s District 1, which includes Crawford, Erie, Forest, Mercer, Venango, and Warren counties.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says drowsy-driving crashes most commonly occur between 12:00 AM and 6:00 AM, or late in the afternoon. During both times of the day, people experience dips in the human body’s internal clock that regulates sleep.
PennDOT recommends the following tips to avoid drowsy driving:
- Get adequate sleep on a daily basis. The National Sleep Foundation recommends adults get between seven and nine hours of sleep to maintain proper alertness.
- Schedule proper breaks during long trips – approximately every 100 miles or two hours.
- Arrange for a travel companion and share driving responsibilities.
- Check prescription and over-the-counter medication labels to see if drowsiness is a side effect.
- Use public transportation, when possible.
- Avoid driving during peak sleepiness periods. If you must drive during these times, be aware of signs of drowsiness, such as crossing over the roadway lines or hitting a rumble strip.
For more information on drowsy driving, visit www.penndot.pa.gov/safety.
Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Crawford, Erie, Forest, Mercer, Venango, and Warren counties at www.pa.gov/DOTdistrict1.
Find PennDOT news for the northwest region on X or Facebook.
MEDIA CONTACT: Saxon Daugherty, sadaughert@pa.gov or 814-678-7095
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