asleep at the wheel

asleep at the wheel

Failing to attend to one's responsibilities or duties; not doing or paying attention to that which is important or for which one is responsible. Johnson was supposed to make sure the paperwork went through before the deadline, but it looks like he was asleep at the wheel. We would have won if our goalie hadn't fallen asleep at the wheel!
See also: asleep, wheel
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

asleep at the wheel

not attentive or alert; inactive. informal
The image here is of falling asleep while driving a car. A North American variant is asleep at the switch , which refers to the points lever or switch on a railway.
2003 Guardian Rowling has not been asleep at the wheel in the three years since the last Potter novel, and I am pleased to report that she has not confused sheer length with inspiration.
See also: asleep, wheel
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

asleep at the ˈwheel

(especially British English) (American English usually asleep at the ˈswitch) (informal) not paying attention to possible problems: The agency has been asleep at the wheel and has failed to enforce regulations.
This refers to someone falling asleep while driving a car or while operating a control on a train track.
See also: asleep, wheel
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • a lion in the way
  • at (one's) expense
  • at expense
  • at somebody's expense
  • at someone's expense
  • be in (one's) good graces
  • be in somebody's good graces
  • be in someone's good graces
  • at doorstep
  • at (one's) doorstep
References in periodicals archive
This leads to another factor, "optimism bias." It might be the case that drivers fall asleep at the wheel because they are overly optimistic about their ability to drive without rest (Braver et al.
Hours of sleep and fatigue in motor carriage
Elsewhere, an 18-year-old E-2 was driving home from a coffee shop at 0315 when he, too, fell asleep at the wheel. His vehicle crossed the opposite lane of traffic before he woke up, cut the wheel, and hit a tree.
Drowsy driving
Because sleep is a necessary and often uncontrollable function, all drivers are susceptible to falling asleep at the wheel.
Driving drowsy is dangerous
Lipsitz says there have been frequent reports of accidents that have resulted from business travelers and others who have fallen asleep at the wheel.
Sleepless in a strange place: when counting sheep fails
The study also showed that 35.0% of people with sleep apnea have fallen asleep at the wheel in the past year.
Sleep apnea linked to falling asleep at wheel: study
Congress for falling asleep at the wheel during recent financial crises around the world.
Accounting Alchemy
"When it comes to meat labeling, the USDA has been asleep at the wheel,' he added.
Meaty Secrets
An informal survey published in the JAMA in 1988 found that six out of seven surgical residents queried had fallen asleep at the wheel after being on call all night.
Exhaustion that Kills
in Mariveles town when he fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into a tree at 4:30 a.m.
Truck driver buried in gravel he was ferrying to Bulacan
The 14-time Major winner was found asleep at the wheel of his car in Florida on Monday and charged with driving under the influence of drugs.
'Get your claws out of Tiger'
David Davies and the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) have hit out at charges imposed by private firms on motorists who stop for more than two hours to avoid falling asleep at the wheel.
Motors Life-saving rest shouldn't have [...]
Research from coffee chain Costa revealed 55% of North East drivers admitted driving when too tired, while 40% admitted feeling close to falling asleep at the wheel.
Drivers in region ignore tiredness
Endlessly-long, straight highways and fasting during Ramadan are two reasons why motorists in the UAE fall asleep at the wheel and crash, authors of a new report have said.
Tiredness kills on UAE's roads
ADOZING driver risked "carnage" on a Northumberland dual carriageway when he fell asleep at the wheel, a court heard.
Dozy driver risked road crash carnage; Dad-to-be, 24, admits nodding off at wheel
Nearly two in 10 drivers - 17 percent or approximately 14 million people - say they have actually fallen asleep at the wheel in the past year.
Millions drive drowsy and fall asleep at the wheel