AAA has been conducting research on the effects of driving while drowsy. They have completed studies on the topic in 2010 and 2014. Most recently, they completed a new study on the topic in December 2016.

The 2014 study found that an estimated 21% of fatal car accidents involve a drowsy driver. They also found that about one third of drivers have fallen asleep at the wheel at some point, and around one driver out of every ten drivers has fallen asleep while driving in the last year alone.

The study that was completed in December 2016 found that the probability of a driver being involved in a car accident drastically increases when drivers only get five hours of sleep a night. Five hours a sleep a night is only two hours less than the amount recommended for adults. The study found that driving on only five hours of sleep was similar to driving to driving with a blood alcohol concentration that was around the legal limit.

Driving while you feel tired is dangerous, and should be avoided. Because this behavior is similar to the effects of driving while under the influence of alcohol, you are putting not only yourself, but other people on the roadway at risk. If you are feeling sleepy or have not gotten an adequate amount of sleep, you should avoid driving to help keep yourself safe and others.

What can we do to get people to stop driving drowsy?