Czech Road Safety Experts Warn of Growing Driver Distractions and Micro‑Sleep

Road‑safety officials in the Czech Republic say traffic fatalities have risen this year, with police recording 222 deaths by the end of July – ten more than the same period last year. The increase is linked to a higher number of motorcyclist crashes, growing vehicle numbers and more aggressive driving.

Jiří Novotný, a member of the Road Safety Team and deputy chair of the Association of Driving Schools, highlighted that many drivers now look at social‑media feeds while driving, which lengthens reaction times and can lead to tragic outcomes. He called for better driver education, infrastructure improvements and stricter enforcement.

Data analysis by Marek Sibal and Jan Chalas of DataFriends shows that micro‑sleep – drivers falling asleep briefly behind the wheel – caused an average of 1,548 accidents per year between 2014 and 2025. The risk peaks in June and July, accounting for over 2 % of all crashes, and is highest during the third hour of the morning and at night on empty highways. Early warning signs include yawning, eye‑burning and frequent seat‑adjustments; the most reliable response is to stop, rest and, if needed, take a short nap.

Experts advise drivers to recognize fatigue symptoms, avoid phone use, and pull over safely when micro‑sleep symptoms appear, in order to reduce the growing toll of road deaths.