Driver Drowsiness Alert
The car thinks you're getting drowsy — steering patterns or camera data suggest fatigue. Take a break.
What it means
Systems track steering corrections, lane weaving, time at the wheel, and (on newer cars) your eyelids via a driver camera. When the pattern matches fatigue, you get the coffee-cup warning. False alarms happen on winding roads, but repeated alerts deserve respect.
Can you keep driving?
Pull over for a real break — 20 minutes of rest or a coffee. Pushing on with drowsiness is comparable to driving over the alcohol limit in terms of reaction impairment.
What to do now
- 1
Stop somewhere safe for a 15–20 minute nap or a walk and a coffee.
- 2
Share driving on long trips and take a break every two hours regardless.
- 3
Don't rely on open windows and loud music — they mask, not cure, fatigue.
Likely causes
- • Fatigue-pattern steering or lane behavior (real alert)
- • Long continuous drive time (time-based reminder)
- • Winding roads confusing the algorithm (false positive)
Typical fix cost
$0 — the fix is rest
Ranges reflect mainstream US parts-and-labor pricing; your vehicle and region will vary.