H.Res. 778 — Introduced in House

IV 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 778 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES November 5, 2021Ms. Dean (for herself and Mr. Fitzpatrick) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure RESOLUTION Expressing support for the recognition of the week of November 7 through November 14, 2021, as Drowsy Driving Prevention Week. Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines drowsy driving as operating a motor vehicle while fatigued or sleepy; Whereas drowsy driving creates serious risk on the road by making drivers less attentive, slowing reaction times, and affecting his or her ability to make decisions; Whereas the National Safety Council considers drowsy driving to be a profound impairment that mimics alcohol-impaired driving in many ways, including impaired attention, mental processing, judgment, and decision making; Whereas studies show that being awake for 18 hours results in impairment equivalent or worse than a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.05 percent and being awake for 24 hours results in a BAC of 0.1 percent, higher than the legal limit of 0.08 percent BAC in all States; Whereas the National Sleep Foundation advises that healthy adults need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night; Whereas drivers who work the night shift, work multiple jobs, or have irregular work schedules are at increased risk for motor vehicle crashes caused by drowsy driving; Whereas the National Sleep Foundation found that 60 percent of adult drivers reported driving while drowsy in the past year and an estimated 1 in 25 adult drivers (aged 18 or older) reported having fallen asleep while driving in the previous 30 days; Whereas an estimated 328,000 crashes and 21 percent of all fatal crashes annually, 6,400 deaths per year, involve a drowsy driver; Whereas the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conservatively estimates that 100,000 police-reported crashes each year are caused primarily by drowsy driving and that such crashes result in more than 1,550 deaths, 71,000 injuries, and $12,500,000,000 in monetary losses; Whereas numerous States across the Nation promote and participate in Drowsy Driving Prevention Week; Whereas Drowsy Driving Prevention Week informs communities about preventative measures against drowsy driving such as improving overall sleep habits and avoiding medication that causes drowsiness; Whereas the goal of Drowsy Driving Prevention Week is to reduce the number of drivers who drive while sleep deprived; and Whereas drowsy driving deaths are preventable, and lives can be saved through awareness, prevention, and intervention: Now, therefore, be it That the House of Representatives— (1) supports the designation of Drowsy Driving Prevention Week to raise awareness about the dangers of drowsy driving; and (2) encourages people across the United States to take preventable steps against drowsy driving.