Drowsy Driving = A Higher Risk of Crashes

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – According to research drowsy driving is nearly eight times higher than federal estimates.

AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety conducted the most in-depth drowsy driving research in the U.S. with in-vehicle dash cameras monitoring over 700 crashes.

“The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that drowsy driving was a factor in 9.5 percent of crashes and 10.8 percent of crashes that involved significant property damage,” Senior Manager of Public Affairs Kimberly Schwind said. “Keep in mind the federal estimates indicate drowsy driving is a factor in one to two percent of crashes and so the numbers are significantly higher.”

According to Schwind researchers studied the dash videos to examine drivers’ faces in the last three minutes before the crashes took place. Schwind said the prevention to drowsy driving is getting at least seven hours of sleep.

“We recommend that if you are so tired you can’t keep your eyes open, you’re drifting from the lane, you can’t remember the last few miles that you’ve driven,” Schwind said. “You know it’s time to pull over and maybe take a 20 minute cat nap in a rest area. So you know really the sleep is going to be the main remedy.”

To help prevent drowsy driving AAA recommends to travel during times when you’re normally awake, avoid eating heavy foods before driving, and to avoid medications that cause drowsiness and other impairments.

For those who don’t know if their medications can cause drowsiness or other impairments may contact their doctor or check out the free and confidential online tool that provides feedback on whether or not their medications may cause these risks.

To try the online RoadwiseRX tool follow this link. For more information on this study visit AAA’s website.