The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety’s 2011 safety culture survey reveals that, in the past month, about one-third of respondents got behind the wheel when sufficiently tired that they had trouble keeping their eyes open, despite 96 percent saying drowsy driving is an unacceptable behavior.
A 2005 poll by the National Sleep Foundation determined that 60 percent of drivers would admit to driving while sleepy in the past year, and 37 percent confessed they had fallen asleep while doing so. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has estimated about 100,000 crashes each year result from sleepiness and drowsy driving, if not more.
Dangers of Drowsy Driving
A 2010 study by the AAA Foundation indicated one out of every six deadly crashes involves a drowsy driver, and one out of eight results in serious injury. This suggested drowsy driving may be more common or more dangerous than previously shown by research. Like other impairments, drowsiness lowers a driver’s reaction time and negatively impacts vision and judgment. The more common the habit becomes, the stronger its negative impact on health, safety and auto insurance rates is likely to be.
“Although the vast majority of drivers recognize the serious threat of drowsy driving, a ‘Do as I Say, Not as I Do’ attitude exists when getting behind the wheel. Drowsy driving kills, just as sure as drunk, drugged and distracted driving does,” said AAA Foundation president and CEO Peter Kissinger.
Avoiding Drowsy Driving
Drivers who find they have difficulty keeping their heads up and eyes open and focused, yawn or become aware of other behavioral signs of sleep should stop driving if necessary. AAA suggests motorists get at least 7 hours of sleep before long trips, schedule breaks at least every 2 hours or 100 miles and allow a half-hour for caffeine to take effect if drinking beverages to stay awake.
The organization also suggests drivers plan overnight stops when going long distances and try to match their timing to their sleep schedule instead of staying behind the wheel at hours they are accustomed to sleeping through. Switching off with another driver can help keep whoever is behind the wheel fresh, and having a passenger to talk to may also help keep the mind focused and sharp.
Accuracy of Drowsy Driving Data
CNN Health blogger Dr. Lisa Shives suggested that drowsy driving is likely under-reported, for several reasons. Unlike drunk driving, there is not necessarily a simple test to evaluate drowsiness. She also noted that after crashes, especially fatal ones, it can be impossible to determine whether those involved were drowsy behind the wheel. In addition, she notes, drowsy driving is more likely to occur when there are no passengers, so there is no one else to evaluate the driver’s state.