Drowsy Driving Accidents Increase in Cold Weather

The colder the weather is, the more people die in accidents caused by drivers who fall asleep at the wheel of their car.

The Korea Expressway Corporation on Thursday said that analysis for January accidents and weather for the last three years showed that drivers are more prone to cause fatal accidents in lower temperatures. 

"The colder it is, the higher the risk of death from drowsy driving," a spokesperson said. 

According to the corporation, 0.27 people a day died in accidents caused by drivers who nodded off in the toasty warmth of their heated car when temperatures fell to 0-5 degrees Celsius in January from 2020 to 2022. 

The average fatality rose to 0.28 when it fell to -5 and 0 degrees; 0.42 people between -5 and -10 degrees; 0.5 people between -10 and -15 degrees; and one a day at below -15 degrees. 

"When it's very cold, many drivers have the heater on at full blast and never open the windows during a long drive," the spokesperson said. "That increases carbon dioxide levels in the warm car and reduces the amount of oxygen that is delivered to the brain, making the driver drowsy."