In preparation for daylight saving time on March 13, California Highway Patrol officials are striving to raise awareness about the potential dangers of fatigued driving in the Santa Clarita Valley and beyond.

Last year alone, a total of 5,447 sleepy or fatigued drivers were involved in traffic collisions in California, with 40 fatalities reported as a result.

Nationally, an estimated 100,000 reported crashes are caused by driver fatigue every year, resulting in 1,500 deaths, 71,000 injuries and $12.5 billion in monetary losses, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“Many people have a hard time adjusting to the time change, and it can affect their driving,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. “Even the most careful drivers become confused and use poor judgment when they are sleepy.”

Studies show that staying awake for 18 hours can result in cognitive impairment similar to having a blood alcohol content of .05 percent, according to the National Sleep Foundation.

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Further, the NSF reports that staying awake for 24 hours can result in cognitive impairment similar to a blood alcohol content of .10 percent higher than the legal limit in the U.S.

Two out of every five drivers admit to having fallen asleep at the wheel at some point, according to research by the American Automobile Foundation, and more than a quarter of those surveyed said they continued to drive even though they had difficulty keeping their eyes open.

“The only safe driver is an alert driver,” Farrow said. “We ask all California drivers to be alert, awake and prevent crashes.”

The NSF warns residents that stimulants like coffee, energy drinks and even lights from electronic devices all may interfere with natural sleep/wake cycles, and recommends that individuals between the ages of 18 and 64 get seven to nine hours of sleep every night.