This week we bring you a new American Automobile Association study on a major problem, drowsy driving. AAA says its new research shows that drowsy drivers aren't aware of how tired they are and often fail to take breaks.
According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, its new study shows that drowsy drivers underestimate how sleepy they are - so often don't take breaks. Researchers say the role drowsy driving plays in accidents, crashes, injuries and deaths is underreported in government statistics, but that previous Foundation research estimated that 16% to 21% of all police-reported fatal vehicle crashes likely involve drowsy driving.
“Being drowsy while driving is a dangerous form of impairment, and it does not resolve or improve with continued driving,” said Dr. David Yang, the Foundation’s president and executive director. “Our goal is to help drivers learn to heed the early warning signs of drowsiness so they can stop, rest, and then continue their journey as safely as possible.”
Drowsiness defined refers to a state of increased tendency to fall asleep. The danger isn't just falling asleep at the wheel itself. Drowsy driving also impairs drivers by reducing their alertness. What's more, AAA researchers say crashes caused by drowsy driving tend to be severe, because the driver may not attempt to brake or swerve to avoid a collision so impact could occur at a high rate of speed. Another situation could be that a drowsy driver could be startled and lose control of the vehicle.
To demonstrate the danger of drowsy driving, researchers designed a 150-mile simulated nighttime highway driving experiment for the study. Every 20 miles, there was a simulated “rest area” at which participants could stop, leave the driving simulator, walk around, nap, drink coffee, or eat a snack. A monetary incentive encouraged drivers to complete the drive as quickly as possible while incentivizing them to avoid crashing. Researchers used a brief survey to gauge how drowsy drivers felt and measured the percentage of time their eyes were closed to gauge sleepiness.e
AAA says levels of drowsiness generally increased throughout the simulated highway driving experiment. Participants usually knew they were drowsy, but their perceptions of how drowsy they were weren't always accurate and impacted their decision-making.
If you'd like more technical data or methodology details about the experiment click here.
AAA says the experiment shows that drivers need some help to help recognize how drowsy they are. Knowing the warning signs of drowsiness can help drivers avoid dozing off behind the wheel. The most common symptoms include:
AAA also recommends drivers get at least seven hours of sleep before hitting the road, as well as:
If you're taking longer trips:
AAA says it supports the development of vehicle technology that can passively monitor drivers for impairment and prevent or limit vehicle operation when needed. The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act requires NHTSA to create testing standards for this kind of technology that can detect driver impairment, including that caused by drowsiness, medical impairment, or drugs, including alcohol.