A recent study by the American Automobile Association (AAA) shows that nearly 1 in 10 car crashes are a result of a drowsy driver and cause eight times more serious accidents.
How the results were obtained
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that 9.5% of all crashes and 10.8% of higher-severity crashes involved drowsiness. The results were obtained from a study of dashboard video from 700 accidents. It revealed the portion of time the drivers’ eyes were closed in the moments before the crash.
The study sheds new light on the frequency of drowsy driving accidents, as federal estimates had suggested that drowsiness was a factor in only 1% or 2% of crashes.
David Yang, the foundation’s executive director said. “Drivers who don’t get enough sleep are putting everyone on the road at risk.”
The risks of drowsy driving
Drivers who only have five hours of sleep nearly double the risk of a motor vehicle accident. AAA likens it to driving while drunk.
Drowsy driving has a profound effect on driving ability. It affects
- Reaction Time
- Vision
- Tracking
- Concentration
- Comprehension
- Coordination
How to combat drowsy driving
Coffee has always been thought to be the antidote to sleepiness, as has singing and rolling down a window to let in colder air. They don’t work.
AAA’s manager of driver training William Van Tassel said, “Don’t be fooled, the only antidote for drowsiness is sleep. Your body’s need for sleep will eventually override your brain’s attempts to stay awake.”
AAA recommendations to combat drowsy driving include:
- Taking a break every two hours or every 100 miles
- Taking turns driving with an alert passenger
- Taking a twenty-minute power nap at a rest stop
- Avoiding heavy foods before and during driving
- Avoiding any medications that can cause drowsiness
There are so many hazards posed by drivers on the road – from distracted driving to driver fatigue. By getting enough sleep, drivers can significantly reduce the risks for everyone on our nation’s roadways and keep us all safer.
Group Matrix Blog – February 21, 2018 – by Sharon Bowles
