Take this simple true and false quiz to find out. 

There is no relationship between one’s sleep and work schedule and the risk of being involved in a drowsy-driving crash.

FALSE: Studies have found a direct correlation between the numbers of hours a person works and their risk of being in a drowsy driving crash.  People who work more than one job where their primary job requires them to work an irregular schedule are twice as likely to be involved in a sleep-related crash when compared to people in non-sleep related crashes.

Working on the night shift does not affect one’s chances of being involved in a sleep-related crash.

TRUE:  Research has provided a good picture of the common characteristics of drowsy-driving crashes, which tend to occur at night or in mid-afternoon, involve a single vehicle running off the roadway, lack any evidence of braking, and involve a young male driving alone.

Overall, sleep-related crashes have certain characteristics that set them apart from other types of crashes.

TRUE:  Research has provided a good picture of the common characteristics of drowsy-driving crashes, which tend to occur at night or in mid-afternoon, involve a single vehicle running off the roadway, lack any evidence of braking, and involve a young male driving alone.

The largest at-risk group for sleep-related crashes is commercial drivers.

FALSE:  Sleep-related crashes are most common in young people, who tend to stay up late, sleep too little, and drive at night.  One study found that in 55% of sleep-related crashes, drivers were age 25 or younger and were predominantly men.

Eating a big lunch tends to make everyone sleepy.

FALSE:  Such things as heavy meals, warm rooms and long drives only unmask the presence of sleep deprivation or sleep debt; they do not cause sleepiness.

People can usually tell when they are going to fall asleep.

FALSE:  Sleep is not voluntary.  If you’re tired, you can fall asleep and never know it.  When you’re driving 60 mph and fall asleep for a few seconds (microsleep) you can travel up to the length of a football field without any control of your vehicle.

Rolling down a window or singing along with the radio while driving will help keep someone awake.

FALSE:  An open window or music has no lasting effect on a person’s ability to stay awake.  In fact, they may mask the person’s lack of alertness.

DISCLAIMER:  The materials contained in this document were developed under a contract with the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) and are being disseminated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in the interest of information exchange.  The FMCSA assumes no liability of the contents or use thereof.