There are new startling statistics about drowsy driving. A new report finds two out of every five drivers, or 41 percent, admit they've driven while dozing off. One in 10 say they've done it in the past year, and 25 percent admit to driving drowsy in the last month, despite being so tired they had trouble keeping their eyes open.
The AAA Foundation analysis was released to coincide with Drowsy Driving Prevention Week. In light of the growing problem, AAA and the National Sleep Foundation are now teaming up to sound the alarm on the problem of sleepy drivers.
"Unfortunately, too many drivers have adopted the 'I'm tired, but I can make it' mentality," said Tom Chestnut, President/CEO of AAA Western and Central New York. "This data underscores the importance of educating drivers on the simple, yet effective steps they can take to prevent a possible tragedy."
According to a new analysis of crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an estimated 16.5 percent of all deadly crashes involve a drowsy drive rand 13.1 percent of drowsy driving crashes land someone in the hospital.
"Many of us tend to underestimate the negative effects associated with fatigue," Chestnut said. "Sleepiness decreases awareness, slows reaction time, and impairs judgment, just like drugs or alcohol, ultimately contributing to the possibility of a crash."
In fact, just last week, we posted a story about how many Central New Yorkers aren't getting enough rest. Read the full story here.
To remain alert and avoid drowsy driving, AAA issued the following recommendations:
· Getting plenty of sleep (at least six hours) the night before a long trip;
· Scheduling a break every two hours or every 100 miles;
· Traveling with an awake passenger and at times when you are normally awake; and
· Stop driving if you become sleepy; someone who is tired could fall asleep at any time.
Symptoms of sleepiness include but are not limited to:
· Having trouble keeping your eyes open and focused;
· Frequent yawning and the inability to keep your head up;
· Daydreaming or having wandering, disconnected thoughts; and
· Drifting from your lane, tailgating, missing signs or driving past an intended exit.
Click here for more information about drowsy driving.
