Mapping Rates of Drowsy Driving

This map from NapLab highlights the locations with the highest instances of drowsy driving. This is such an important topic to study and gather data on. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that in 2022, 693 people died in drowsy-driving-related crashes. Many people push their limits behind the wheel when they’re tired. After all, if you’re exhausted while traveling, nothing sounds more appealing than hurrying home to your warm, familiar bed. But maps like this one illustrate just how risky this decision can be.

The team at NapLab studied fatalities in drowsy driving accidents, adjusted rates by population density and then mapped out the locations that had the most accidents. Here are their findings.

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For counties with 150,000-500,000 residents:

1. Bastrop County, TX: 20.72 fatalities per 100,000
2. Coconino County, AZ: 13.19 fatalities per 100,000
3. Midland County, TX: 20 11.63 fatalities per 100,000
4. Hunt County, TX: 10.16 fatalities per 100,000
5. Liberty County, TX: 9.80 fatalities per 100,000

For counties with 25,000-150,000 people:

1. Gillespie, TX: 40.03 per 100,000
2. Milam, TX: 1039.02 per 100,000
3. Walker, AL: 2132.64 per 100,000
4. Cass, TX: 931.54 per 100,000
5. Sweetwater, WY: 31.44 per 100,000

For counties with populations of 5,000 to 25,000:

1. Pecos, TX: 190.02 per 100,000
2. Reeves, TX: 178.23 per 100,000
3. Madison, TX: 157.23 per 100,000
4. Refugio, TX: 150.78 per 100,000
5. Winkler, TX: 150.56 per 100,000

Texas counties topped most of the of the lists, which might be due to dark, quiet rural highways lulling drivers to sleep.