New research from AAA – The Auto Club Group suggests traditional data greatly underestimates the lethality and danger of driving sleep deprived.
The study published by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety analyzed national fatal crash data and in-depth crash investigations to estimate that drowsy driving is a factor in roughly x10 as many traffic fatalities than previous data indicates. The full study can be viewed here.
Current data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates 1%–2% of all crashes, injuries, and deaths involve drowsy driving. The Foundation study reanalyzes crash reporting data to estimate a much steeper 17.6% of all traffic fatalities (between 2017 and 2021) involve drowsiness, accounting for nearly 30,000 deaths. This would estimate 6,725 deaths in 2021 alone.
These figures are far higher than official government statistics, highlighting the underreported nature of drowsy driving crashes. According to NHTSA, there is agreement across the traffic safety, sleep science, and public health communities that the impact of drowsy driving is underestimated.
We’ve all experienced a sleepy morning drive or the drained last stretch on a long road trip, but this study suggests that drowsiness can be dangerously impairing. Being sleep deprived has been show to reduce alertness making it harder to react quickly to hazards and increase the risk of making ordinary mistakes, leading to crashes. Being extremely fatigued can also cause “microsleeps” or momentary lapses in consciousness, leading to loss of control of the vehicle and failure to respond to dangers on the road.
The Sleep Foundation reports, after 20 hours of being awake, drowsy drivers are impaired on a level equal to a 0.08% blood alcohol content, which is the current legal limit in Nebraska.
The warning signs of drowsy driving ,according to the CDC, include frequent yawning or blinking, trouble remembering the past few miles driven, missing your exit, drifting from your lane, and hitting a rumble strip on the side of the road.
AAA-Nebraska Public Affairs Specialist Brian Ortner echoed caution in the wake of this concerning data, and offered proactive solutions for drivers to avoid dozing off behind the wheel.
“Easy ways to avoid drowsy driving—Get enough sleep before driving, especially if you’re going on a road trip… This is something a lot of people will want to hear, don’t underestimate the power of a nap and how much that can significantly improve your alertness! Try to travel at times of day when
you’re awake, listen to your body. If you’re going on a long road trip, take breaks every 2 hours or 100 miles. Get out of the car, stretch your legs, get that fresh air. If you have a passenger, make sure they’re alert as well and take turns driving. Don’t eat a heavy meal before you drive, and most importantly, driver sober. Drugs and alcohol can impair your driving ability and amplify your drowsiness,” Ortner said.
Ornter also says not to lean on coffee or energy drinks as a solution. As the effects of caffeine only last a short time and don’t always produce alertness. The NHTSA suggests, if you start to get sleepy while you’re driving, drink one to two cups of coffee and pull over for a short 20-minute nap in a safe place, such as a lighted, designated rest stop. This has been shown to increase alertness in scientific studies, but only for short time periods.
“This should be a wake up call for drivers, not to underestimate if they’re feeling drowsy behind the wheel. It’s important whether you’re driving to work or taking the family on a road trip, stay alert or get yourself off the road,” said Ornter.