Driver fatigue is one of the most serious threats to the safety of all road users. Driver fatigue contributes to thousands of police-reported accidents along the nation’s roadways each year, resulting in countless fatalities and injuries. Beyond the human toll is the economic one. It is estimated that driver fatigue costs the U.S. economy billions of dollars in monetary loss annually.

Fatigue is the result of not getting a sufficient amount of sleep or a lack of quality sleep. Behind the wheel, driver fatigue bears some similarities to drunk driving. While driver fatigue can affect anyone behind the wheel, commercial drivers regularly face long trips and inconsistent schedules, which places them at a higher risk of experiencing driver fatigue, even if they conform to federal hours of service regulations.

This video examines some of the factors that influence the likelihood that a driver will become fatigued and what professional drivers can do to help protect themselves against the dangers of driver fatigue.