fall asleep at the wheel

fall asleep at the wheel

To fail to attend to one's responsibilities or duties; to be inattentive 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 fell asleep at the wheel. Our goalkeeper is such a nincompoop. We would have won that match if he hadn't fallen asleep at the wheel!
See also: asleep, fall, wheel
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • be asleep at the wheel
  • fall asleep at the switch
  • be asleep at the switch
  • sleeping at the switch
  • slept
  • be sleeping at the switch
  • be sleeping at the wheel
  • a lion in the way
  • at (one's) doorstep
  • at doorstep
References in periodicals archive
Backaches and trouble sleeping became increasingly severe, however, leading her to fall asleep at the wheel.
This month's quick poll
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
OBESE drivers are more likely to fall asleep at the wheel because of a breathing condition, warns an expert.
Fat drivers in sleep risk; HEALTH
Let them fall asleep at the wheel and they're worth $100,000.
What's the value of human life?
MORE than 300,000 drivers may have a sleep disorder that could make them fall asleep at the wheel, say researchers.
Poor sleep risks lives
If you fall asleep at the wheel you are twice as likely to die or suffer serious injury because a sleeping driver does not react before a crash.
Don't create a slim chance of safe driving... The hidden danger of your New Year crash diet
More than 70% of drivers said they tried to take breaks on long road journeys, and made sure they had a good night's sleep before starting out.: Danger signals:The survey suggests 2.3 million drivers may fall asleep at the wheel every year; Between 1am and 4am is when drivers are most likely to fall asleep at the wheel.
Alarm as one in 14 admit nodding off while driving
Hours of sleep and working conditions significantly impact the probability that a driver will fall asleep at the wheel.
Hours of sleep and fatigue in motor carriage
'Ropinirole is associated with the sudden onset of sleepiness and the drug caused her to fall asleep at the wheel.'
DID MEDICINE CAUSE CAR DEATH?
The Association of British Drivers claims motorists are forced to drive so slowly that they fall asleep at the wheel. The claim follows independent analysis of road accident statistics showing that 17 per cent of deaths and serious injuries are caused by drivers nodding off at the wheel, in comparison to four per cent for speeding.
Motoring: Conditions make drivers sleepy
The father-of-four has submitted documents which argue he did not fall asleep at the wheel but crashed the car after a rear tyre burst.
Killer driver in bid for freedom
"I hope some further investigations are carried out into drivers who fall asleep at the wheel.
Rail victims were unlawfully killed
But he added: 'I definitely did not fall asleep at the wheel. I told the doctors and the police that as soon as I was able to talk to them.'
DEATH COACH DRIVER'S SECOND CRASH; He was at wheel in collision last month
DRIVERS who fall asleep at the wheel cause at least 1,500 accidents a year in Scotland.
Killers at the wheel
If you fall asleep at the wheel you are 50 per cent more likely to die or suffer serious injury because a sleeping driver does not react before a crash.
DRIVE ON FOR HEALTHY DIET; What you eat can spell big trouble for road users