Drowsy Driving Prevention Week is an annual campaign from the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) that encourages drivers to put sleep first and only get behind the wheel when they are alert. It takes place in early November, and NSF uses it to share survey results, prevention tips and materials under its "Sleep First. Drive Alert." message.
For employers with drivers, from long-haul truckers to sales reps and service technicians, drowsy driving is a real crash risk that often goes unreported. The week is a good time to talk about fatigue, schedules and the right to stop driving when a driver is too tired.
When Is Drowsy Driving Prevention Week in 2027?
NSF held Drowsy Driving Prevention Week on November 2–8 in 2025 and November 1–7 in 2026. In both years the week began on the first Sunday of November, the same day daylight saving time ends, when the time change can disrupt sleep. Following that pattern, the 2027 week would run from Sunday, November 7 through Saturday, November 13, 2027. NSF announces official dates each year, so confirm on its Drowsy Driving Prevention page.
NSF also hosts related events around the week, such as its Drowsy Driving Forum, and releases new survey findings. Any 2027 materials will be posted by NSF.
Why It Matters at Work
Fatigue slows reaction time, narrows attention and can lead to microsleeps, brief lapses of a few seconds when a driver is effectively not driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports 644 deaths from drowsy-driving-related crashes in 2024. NHTSA also estimated that in 2017, 91,000 police-reported crashes involved drowsy drivers, leading to about 50,000 injuries and nearly 800 deaths, and it describes those figures as an underestimate.
NHTSA notes that these crashes happen most often between midnight and 6 a.m. or in the late afternoon, frequently involve a single driver with no passengers leaving the road at high speed with no sign of braking, and often occur on rural roads and highways. That describes many early-morning routes, overnight deliveries and end-of-shift drives home.
For commercial drivers, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) points to its Large Truck Crash Causation Study, which found that 13 percent of commercial motor vehicle drivers were considered fatigued at the time of their crash. FMCSA also cites research linking 18 hours awake to impairment comparable to a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent.
How to Take Part
Practical ideas for a fleet or any workplace where employees drive:
- Share NSF's materials. Use NSF's survey infographics, sleep tips and "Sleep First. Drive Alert." message in driver meetings and newsletters.
- Look at schedules. Review routes, shift lengths, early starts and back-to-back shifts that leave little time for sleep. Build in breaks and realistic delivery windows.
- Make it safe to stop. Tell drivers clearly that pulling over when too tired to drive safely is expected, and that they will not be penalized for it.
- Remind drivers about the time change. The end of daylight saving time brings darker evening commutes and a shift in sleep routines.
- Review hours of service compliance. For regulated drivers, check logs and ELD data for patterns of violations or long stretches near the limits.
- Talk about sleep disorders. Encourage drivers who snore heavily, wake unrefreshed or nod off during the day to talk with a medical provider.
- Treat fatigue events as near misses. Encourage drivers to report lane drifts, rumble strip hits or close calls linked to tiredness so you can learn from them.
Toolbox Talk: Recognizing and Preventing Drowsy Driving
Read this 5-minute talk to drivers at the start of the week.
- Sleep is the only real fix. Aim for 7 to 8 hours of sleep before a driving shift. Coffee, loud music and an open window do not reliably keep you alert.
- Know the warning signs. Frequent yawning, heavy eyes, blurred vision, drifting from your lane, hitting a rumble strip or missing an exit are signs to stop.
- Watch the high-risk times. Drowsy driving crashes are most common between midnight and 6 a.m. and in the late afternoon. Plan breaks for those periods.
- Use a short nap. If you are drowsy, pull over in a safe place. FMCSA suggests a nap of about 10 to 45 minutes, then waiting at least 15 minutes after waking before driving again.
- Check your medications. Allergy, cold and sleep medicines can cause drowsiness. Read the label and ask a pharmacist if you are unsure.
- Speak up. If you are too tired to drive safely, tell your dispatcher or supervisor. That call is part of the job.
Discussion question: What part of your schedule or route makes it hardest to stay rested, and what could we change to help?
Related Requirements
FMCSA regulations at 49 CFR 392.3 prohibit a commercial motor vehicle driver from driving, and a motor carrier from requiring or permitting a driver to drive, while the driver's ability or alertness is impaired, or likely to become impaired, by fatigue, illness or any other cause. A narrow exception lets a driver continue to the nearest safe place in an emergency.
Federal hours of service rules limit driving and on-duty time and require rest breaks and off-duty periods to reduce fatigue. Read the full ill or fatigued operator rule in the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations.
How SMS360 Helps
Managing fatigue means keeping driver compliance and training organized. The SMS360 DOT Compliance module helps you keep driver qualification files and supporting documents in one place, schedule and track driver safety training such as fatigue awareness, and report incidents and near misses from a mobile device. When an event points to a scheduling or rest problem, you can assign corrective actions and follow them to completion, with dashboards that show open items across your fleet.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Drowsy Driving Prevention Week 2027?
Based on NSF's recent pattern of starting the week on the first Sunday of November, the 2027 week would be November 7–13. NSF publishes official dates each year on its website.
Who sponsors Drowsy Driving Prevention Week?
The National Sleep Foundation, a nonprofit focused on sleep health, runs the campaign. Its message is "Sleep First. Drive Alert."
What are the signs of drowsy driving?
Common signs include frequent yawning, heavy eyelids, blurred vision, drifting out of your lane, hitting rumble strips and not remembering the last few miles. If you notice any of them, pull over in a safe place and rest.
