The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) and The National Road Safety Foundation (NRSF) have awarded grants to four states to implement innovative drowsy driving prevention campaigns.

Iowa, Maryland, Nevada and Tennessee will each receive $15,000 in funding. Twelve states applied for these grants and the recipients were chosen by a panel of drowsy driving experts.

The grant program was developed to complement a 2016 GHSA report that provided recommendations for states to tackle the challenging problem of drowsy driving. The funds will equip states with the resources they need to implement many of the suggestions outlined in the report, including increased public awareness, targeted outreach to high-risk groups and law enforcement training.

Specific planned state activities include the following:

Iowa – Through its Zero Fatalities program, the Iowa Department of Transportation will develop a public awareness campaign that puts drowsy driving on par with drunk, drugged and distracted driving. Messages will be strategically placed at state-owned rest areas and on social media encouraging drivers to stop and take a rest. The Iowa DOT will amplify the message with its own resources, including Iowa’s Zero Fatalities website and social media channels. Associated drowsy driving public outreach efforts include Snapchat filters, university partnerships and other Zero Fatalities materials.

Maryland – The Maryland Department of Transportation’s Highway Safety Office will focus its efforts on medical shift workers, a population at greater risk for drowsy driving. The program will include educational materials, a social media campaign, PowerPoint slide templates, an online quiz offering continuing education credit, and more.

Nevada – The Nevada Office of Traffic Safety will provide training for law enforcement to help them better understand the science behind drowsy driving and equip them with the skills they need to recognize drowsy driving behavior, educate the public on the seriousness of the issue, and collect more comprehensive data on the number of traffic stops related to drowsy driving. The State will also develop educational material and a social media campaign to support additional public awareness.

Tennessee – The Tennessee Highway Safety Office will engage with two demographic groups that are overrepresented in drowsy driving crashes: teens and truck drivers. By partnering with SADD Tennessee, the State will mobilize students to develop action plans to educate their peers and communities about the dangers of drowsy driving. And working through the Tennessee Trucking Foundation, Tennessee’s Road Team Captains (professional truck drivers with remarkable driving records) will share drowsy driving prevention messages to the public across the state.

“Drowsy driving is an overlooked and underfunded issue in highway safety” said GHSA Executive Director Jonathan Adkins. “Yet our 2016 report found that tired drivers contribute to 328,000 crashes annually and cost society $109 billion a year. We appreciate The National Road Safety Foundation supporting these programs and expect that some may become models that others can replicate.”