I’ll Never Forget — The Night I Fell Asleep While Driving

Horrific memory of sleeping at the wheel

As someone who has personally experienced the terrifying consequences of drowsy driving, I can say without hesitation — falling asleep at the wheel is no less dangerous than drunk driving.

It’s not just a theory or a warning sign on highways; it’s something that can happen to anyone, even to an experienced driver.

Many drivers are familiar with that unsettling feeling: you’ve driven a long stretch of road, but you can’t remember passing certain turn-offs or landmarks.

It’s a clear indication that your mind and body are on the brink of shutting down.

It’s scary.

I’m not a doctor, but I’ve learned that most people take 10 to 12 minutes to fall asleep naturally. If someone consistently falls asleep in under two minutes, it’s often a sign of serious sleep deprivation — or in some cases, a condition called narcolepsy.

Let me save you a Google search: narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder marked by excessive daytime sleepiness and sudden, uncontrollable episodes of falling asleep.

I first heard the term “falling asleep at the wheel” not in a textbook, but in a real-life story that felt eerily close to…