AAA:  Drowsy Driving Is Worse Than We Think

Drowsy driving is a dangerous issue on the nation's roads and one that is even worse than you might think, according to new research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety that finds drowsy driving crashes are significantly underreported. AAA says its new study, released ahead of Daylight Saving Time when we all lose an hour of sleep and wake up to darker mornings, reveals the shocking lethality of drowsy driving.  AAA says it previous Foundation research points directly to sleep loss as a key culprit in drowsy driving crashes.

According to the new Foundation study, 18% of traffic fatalities between 2017 and 2021 were estimated to involve a drowsy driver and more than 6,500 estimated lives were claimed by drowsy drivers in 2021 alone.

AAA researchers say its figures are far higher than official government statistics, due to the underreported nature of drowsy driving crashes. AAA says that according to NHTSA, there is agreement across the traffic safety, sleep science, and public health communities that the impact of drowsy driving is underestimated.

AAA says the study, based on in-depth crash investigations and national fatal crash data, estimates that drowsy driving is a factor in roughly ten times as many traffic fatalities as traditional crash data indicates.

Drowsy Driving Impacts

AAA says drowsiness impairs drivers in several ways:

• Reduced alertness: Makes it harder to react quickly to hazards. Just one hour less than the expert-recommended minimum of 7 hours of sleep increases a driver’s risk of crashing.
• Impaired judgment: Increases the risk of making poor decisions on the road. Sleep deprivation increases a driver’s risk of making many ordinary mistakes, leading to crashes. Those deprived of sleep by 4+ hours have an impairment similar to those over the legal BAC limit.
• Hazardous Microsleeps: Can cause momentary lapses in consciousness, leading to loss of control of the vehicle and failure to respond to dangers on the road.

Additionally, Previous Foundation research found that drivers often underestimate their drowsiness, putting themselves and others at risk.

Tips To Avoid Drowsy Driving

AAA offers these tips to avoid drowsy driving.

• Get enough sleep before driving. Aim for at least seven hours of sleep per night.
• Travel at times of the day when you are normally awake. Avoid driving when you are tired or sleepy.
• Take breaks every two hours or 100 miles. Get out of the car, stretch your legs, and get fresh air. Plan and identify safe, comfortable places to take breaks. Don’t wait until you’re already feeling drowsy.
• Avoid heavy meals before driving. Eating a large meal can make you feel tired and sluggish.
• Avoid alcohol and drugs. Both can impair your driving ability. Besides harming driving directly, they can also amplify drowsiness.
• Listen to your body. If you start to feel tired, pull over and take a break. Don’t try to push through it.
• Travel with an alert passenger and take turns driving. Sharing the driving can help you stay awake and alert.
• Don’t underestimate the power of a quick nap. A 20- to 30-minute nap can significantly improve your alertness.

AAA says it supports the development of vehicle technology that can detect drowsiness and prevent drivers from operating a vehicle when impaired.  Researchers say this technology could help to save lives by preventing drowsy driving crashes.

Photo credit: AAA.