DMV Warns of Drowsy Driving As Daylight Savings Has Now Ended

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) says with daylight savings now over, motorists should be aware of the dangers of drowsy driving. The DMV says even with an extra hour, sleep patterns can still be disrupted leading to people feeling drowsy.

“Drowsiness and fatigue are contributing factors in thousands of crashes every year on our highways, causing far too many preventable deaths and injuries,” said Mark J.F. Schroeder, NYS Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Commissioner and Chair of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC). “We urge all motorists to be alert to the warning signs of drowsiness, particularly as we make the change to standard time, and take the necessary steps to ensure that they never drive while drowsy.”

The DMV says last year, 4,722 crashes were reported in the state due to fatigue/drowsy driving or a driver falling asleep behind the wheel. Out of those crashes, 9 people were killed and 1,777 were injured. So far in 2025, 1,903 crashes have been reported with one fatality and 700 injuries.

The warning signs of drowsy driving include repeated yawning, struggling to keep one’s eyes open and focused, forgetting the last few miles driven, tailgating or missing traffic signals, and swerving or drifting between lanes of traffic. Drivers should get adequate sleep before driving, take a break about every 100 miles or every two hours, and bring a passenger to help keep them awake and share the driving. Do not drink alcohol before driving and always be aware of the potential side effects of any medications.