Wake Up Call: Drowsy Driving Plays Significant Role in Fatal Crashes

As daytime hours shorten and evening commutes darken due to the end of daylight saving time, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is pointing out that the prevalence of driver fatigue plays a bigger role in fatal crashes than previously thought.

According to new research, more than 21 percent—or one-in-five—fatal crashes involve drowsy driving. These findings, which show a greater occurrence than official National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) statistics, bear out what experts have long suspected.

The report also found that one-third of crashes involving a drowsy driver resulted in injuries. Even more serious, is that each year more than 6,000 fatigue-related crashes result in at least one fatality, the research revealed.

Prior research from the AAA Foundation uncovered that young adult drivers, ages 19-24, are the most serious offenders with 33 percent admitting to driving while drowsy in the last month. In contrast, the oldest (ages 75+) and the youngest (ages 16-18) drivers were the least likely to report the same offense.

“Despite the fact that 95 percent of Americans deem it ‘unacceptable’ to drive when they are so tired that they have a hard time keeping their eyes open, more than 28 percent admit to doing so in the last month,” said Peter Kissinger, president and CEO of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “Like other impairments, driving while drowsy is not without risk,” he warned.

AAA is urging drivers to recognize warning signs of driver fatigue and take action to avoid tragedy during normal driving, and through the upcoming holiday season.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety’s Prevalence of Motor Vehicle Crashes Involving Drowsy Drivers report is based on the analysis of a representative sample of 14,268 crashes that occurred in years 2009–2013 in which at least one vehicle was towed from the scene.

AAA is highlighting the risks of drowsy driving in support of the National Sleep Foundation’s Drowsy Driving Prevention Week®, which runs November 2-9. For more information, visit their website at www.DrowsyDriving.org.