When do drowsy driving crashes most often occur?

Drowsy driving crashes most frequently occur between midnight and 6 a.m. This time frame aligns with the body's natural circadian rhythms, where people typically experience a significant drop in alertness. During the late-night hours, particularly after midnight, many individuals are likely to feel fatigued, making them more prone to losing focus while driving, leading to an increased risk of accidents.

Operating a vehicle requires a high level of concentration and quick reflexes, and during these early morning hours, a driver’s ability to remain alert can be severely compromised. Sleep-deprived individuals may not only have slower reaction times but may also be less aware of their surroundings. This increased vulnerability contributes to the higher rate of collisions during this specific timeframe when drowsy driving is more prevalent.

The other times listed—such as the evening rush hour or late-night hours before midnight—do not show the same significant correlation with drowsy driving incidents as the early morning hours do.