Falling asleep at the wheel of a car or truck is one of the leading causes of serious automobile accidents. Although there are many professions which require employees to drive for extended periods, these drivers are still legally responsible for any injuries arising from an accident caused by falling asleep at the wheel. Fortunately, there are measures that can be taken to prevent or reduce one's chances of falling asleep at the wheel.

Fatigue is a major factor of falling asleep at the wheel. Driving for more than 12 hours at a time can increase one’s fatigue to critical levels so it is best to limit the time spent of any one day driving to 12 hours or under. On the other hand, fatigue caused by normal stresses can also put one in danger of falling asleep at the wheel. There are actions that can be taken to reduce the stresses that cause normal fatigue.

Physiological influences on fatigue levels can be attributed to lack of sleep, poor nutrition or irregular meals leading to an insulin crash, or the ingestion of prescription or illegal drugs and alcohol. Drivers must take steps to prevent physiological fatigue through a combination of eating a nutritious well-balanced diet with the appropriate amounts of each of the major food groups, getting regular exercise to increase levels of stamina and alertness, and getting regular sleep by resolving any insomnia issues. Drivers must also eschew all non-prescription drugs and alcohol while driving and quit smoking cigarettes, if possible. Limiting caffeine consumption to 1 cup of coffee or tea a day and bring one's weight down will also help. Making an effort to limit these behaviors will help to protect against possible negligence in your driving.

While driving, the physical environment of the vehicle can also contribute to fatigue. If the car or cab is too warm the driver is likely to get sleepy, so it is recommended to keep the temperature on the cool side while driving to stay alert. If the suspension system creates a regular vibration much like the rocking of a cradle this too can influence fatigue; fixing the suspension can resolve this issue.

Finally psychological stress can keep the body and a constant state of adrenaline response, draining the physical resources necessary to stay alert. Those who must strive for extended periods of time should take care to relax on their days off engaging and enjoyable or activities and learn more about stress relieving techniques to help reduce psychological stresses.