A recent report from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, one in five fatal accidents involves a drowsy driver in the United States. The statistics are alarming:
• Drowsy drivers are involved in 6% of all crashes and 21% of fatal crashes
• Causes 328,000 crashes annually
• Drivers between 16-24 are 80% more likely to be in a drowsy driver accident
• 60% are more likely to be male than female.
So, how can you prevent drowsy driving as you prepare to hit the road this summer or protect your teen driver?
- Get 7 to 9 hours sleep
- Avoid driving late at night alone
- Share the driving duties on long trips
Not sure if you are driving impaired? Here are the warning signs according to The American Academy of Sleep Medicine:
- Frequent yawning or inability to keep your eyes open
- Catch yourself “nodding off” and trouble keeping your head up
- You can’t remember the last few miles you just drive
- You drift into the other lane of traffic or you drift over the rumble strips on the shoulder
Read the full article here. Simple awareness of the problem will go a long way to safe guarding you and your family this summer. Be careful out there!
Vice President – Business Development
Photo Credit: Kasia Bialasiewicz