Colorado State Patrol: fatigue-caused crashes increased significantly in 2021

COLORADO (KRDO) -- Colorado State Patrol (CSP) reports they saw a "concerning" increase in driver fatigue and drivers who were asleep at the wheel causing serious injury and fatal crashes in 2021.

According to the National Safety Council drowsy driving is similar to driving under the influence of alcohol and can make drivers three times more likely to be in a car crash if they are fatigued.

According to CSP, there were 27 lane violation crashes due to fatigue or a driver falling asleep in 2020. In 2021, these crashes more than doubled to 59. This is a 118 percent increase.

With lane violation-related crashes on the rise, the CSP wants to send a message this Drowsy Driving Prevention Week (November 7 – 14, 2022) to never underestimate the importance of a good night's sleep when it comes to driving.

"We don’t often talk about fatigue and drowsiness, but there is a steady amount of people traveling on our Colorado roadways experiencing sleep-related issues,” stated Col. Matthew C. Packard, Chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “Shift workers and commercial drivers are at extreme risk, but anyone who struggles with getting enough and regular amounts of sleep can be impacted.”

If you do notice signs of drowsiness, CSP recommends pulling over and taking a 20-minute nap in a safe place.

The National Sleep Foundation provided some of the top signs of drowsy driving, which are similar to signs of drunk driving

• Heavy eyelids or frequent blinking
• Frequent yawning
• Daydreaming and trouble focusing
• Drifting back and forth between lanes
• Hitting a rumble strip
• Drooping head
• Poor recall of the last few miles
• Missing signs or exits 
• Restlessness, irritability, and aggressiveness including tailgating