Lack of sleep has serious consequences at home, in the workplace, at school, and on roadways, according to the company CJ Pony Parts, which sells sports car auto parts and operates car shows. Approximately 11 million drivers admit they have had a crash or near crash because they dozed off or were too tired to drive, according to the Sleep in America poll.
The National Drowsy Driving Prevention Week is November 1-8.
According to the newest study conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, more than 1 in 5 deadly crashes involve driver fatigue.
Underlying causes of drowsy driving include: sleep loss, fragmented sleep, chronic sleep debt, and other factors that conflict with the circadian rhythm, untreated sleep disorders, sedative medications, or alcohol consumption.
60% of Americans have driven while feeling sleepy, according to a poll conducted by the National Sleep Foundation.
23% of adults say they know someone who crashed because they fell asleep at the wheel. But only 1 out of 5 drivers pull over to nap when they feel drowsy.
More stats on drowsy driving:
- 55% of drowsy driving crashes are caused by drives less than 25 years old.
- Drivers who don’t regularly use seatbelts are more likely to fall asleep.
- Working 60+ hours per week increases your risk by 40%.
- Functioning on six hours or less of sleep triples your risk.