How To Avoid Drowsy Driving During Your Move
Getting enough rest may not be the first thing on your moving checklist, but it should be a priority before you get behind the wheel.
Drowsy driving can reduce alertness, slow reaction times and make it harder to respond to changing road conditions. And it's more common than you probably think.
According to a 2025 survey from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), 41% of adults in the U.S. said they have felt sleepy enough while driving that it affected their ability to drive safely.
Stay safe behind the wheel with these tips
Driving while tired can have serious consequences. A 2024 study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety estimated that 17.6% of fatal crashes between 2017 and 2021 involved a drowsy driver. Use these tips to ensure you're awake and ready for moving day:
1. Start With Enough Sleep
A long moving day can begin early and involve hours of packing, loading and driving. Starting that day without enough sleep can make an already demanding trip even more difficult.
Adults should get at least seven hours of sleep regularly, according to the AASM. Yet many Americans fall short. In 2024, 30.5% of U.S. adults averaged less than seven hours of sleep in a 24-hour period, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
If you know you have a long drive ahead, plan for a full night’s sleep before your trip rather than counting on coffee or other quick fixes to keep you awake.
2. Know the Signs of Drowsy Driving
Drowsiness does not always mean falling asleep at the wheel. Other signs that you may be too tired to continue driving include:
- Frequent yawning or difficulty keeping your eyes open
- Nodding off or having trouble keeping your head up
- Forgetting the last few miles you drove
- Missing road signs or driving past your turn
- Following other vehicles too closely
- Drifting into another lane
- Hitting the rumble strip or driving onto the shoulder
3. Make Rest Part of Your Moving Plan
Moving can mean early mornings, late nights and a long list of things to accomplish before you ever start driving. Build enough time into your schedule to rest before your trip and take breaks along the way.
What to do if you start feeling sleepy
The safest approach is to be well-rested before your trip, but fatigue can still set in during a long day on the road.
The AASM recommends pulling over at a safe location and taking a nap if you become drowsy. On longer trips, traveling with another alert driver lets you alternate driving responsibilities and get some rest when you’re not behind the wheel.
A few other ways to help reduce the risk of drowsy driving include:
- Get at least seven hours of sleep before a long drive
- Plan regular stops during longer trips
- Avoid driving late at night when possible
- Pay attention to medication labels for warnings about drowsiness
- Stop somewhere safe and rest if you begin to feel sleepy
Caffeine may provide a temporary boost in alertness, but it’s not a substitute for sleep. Turning up the radio, opening a window or trying other tricks to stay awake shouldn’t replace stopping and resting when you’re tired.
If you’re struggling to stay awake or notice signs of drowsiness, find a safe place to stop. Arriving a little later is always better than driving when you’re too tired to do so safely.