We often hear how important it is to get at least eight hours of sleep each night, but sometimes it can be easy to forget how important those eight hours can be throughout the day. This is especially true when it comes to driving to and from work each morning or trudging home after a late night out. But recent statistics show that drowsy driving crashes are becoming more and more frequent and the fatalities that result from these crashes are climbing as well.
Nearly 83.6 million motorists are driving while sleep deprived every day according to a study done by the Governors Highway Safety Association, which was funded by insurer State Farm. This epidemic led to roughly 5,000 crashes nationwide in 2015. One third of these "drowsy drivers" admit to driving without a good night's sleep at least once a month. One out of every seven of those drivers also admitted that they had nodded off behind the wheel at least once in their lives.
Researchers estimate that there are some 328,000 crashes, resulting in more than 6,400 fatalities, each year as a result of drowsy driving. Younger drivers are more likely to get behind the wheel sleepy, as the GHSA study states that 50 percent of drowsy driving crashes are caused by drivers who are 25 years of age or younger.
Many studies also claim that driving drowsy is nearly as bad as driving drunk. Going 24 hours without sleep has been found to be equivalent to having a .10 percent blood alcohol level, per the GHSA report. This level is well over the legal limit in most states. But while drowsy driving is becoming a bigger issue, driving while intoxicated is still the number one threat on the roads. The Centers for Disease Control says that drunk driving accidents resulted in 9,967 fatalities in 2014, or 31 percent of all traffic-related deaths. Drowsy driving two and 20 percent of all traffic fatalities.
"Sleep is a restorative and life-sustaining activity that is just as important as eating right and exercising," said Pam Fischer, the report’s author. "When we skimp on sleep, we’re less able to react quickly – a critical element of safe driving. Our mental and physical health also suffers."
To avoid drowsy driving, the GHSA suggests teens get 8 to 10 hours of sleep and adults 7 to 9 hours of sleep before driving and suggests that motorists not drive alone whenever possible. The report also recommends that motorists not to start trips in the early morning or early afternoon when people tend to be least alert and most tired.
NAFA Fleet Management Association
http://www.nafa.org/