Sleepiness and chronic fatigue as a risk factor: statistics, advice and real road safety solutions

Insufficient sleep and chronic fatigue lead to tens of thousands of serious road accidents every year in Europe. 20% of serious accidents are the result of falling asleep behind the wheel or serious fatigue.

International studies indicate that with sleep under 5–6 hours a night, the risk of a crash increases 3–5 times. If the driver is not well rested, his reaction, concentration and motor skills decrease drastically — an effect comparable to alcohol intoxication.

The World Health Organization and the European Commission report that lack of sleep is the cause of over 3,000 deaths on the road annually in the EU — about 15% of all victims. In Bulgaria, serious accidents in 2025 remain at a high level, and fatigue and impaired attention are among the leading indirect causes.

Facts from scientific practice:

• 5 hours of sleep in the last two nights reduce attention by over 50%;
• Sleepiness is more critical in the early hours of the night and in the afternoon between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.;
• Drivers with chronic fatigue are 60% more likely to be involved in a road accident on weekends.

Practical recommendations from doctors and specialists:

• Get regular sleep for a minimum of 7–9 hours and stick to a consistent sleep schedule;
• Before a long journey – avoid stimulants, exhausting exercises or heavy food;
• Stop for a walk and invigorating every 2 hours;
• In case of drowsiness — a short nap (15–20 minutes) can save a life;
• Drink enough water and take advantage of light music, ventilation and breaks;
• Create a calm and clean sleep environment with a lower temperature and no electronics;
• For daily fatigue, seek medical advice and check for potential health problems.

The official guidelines of the European Parliament for 2025 provide for the introduction of intelligent systems in cars, which monitor attention and automatically warn the driver if a deviation or signs of drowsiness are detected.

The constant fight against fatigue and good sleep hygiene not only save lives, but also reduce injuries, treatment costs and the burden on the emergency services.