New research indicates that drowsy driving could be a far greater traffic safety hazard, with the percentage of crashes involving drowsy drivers being eight times higher than previously believed, AAA reported on Wednesday.
Researchers evaluated video of more than 700 traffic crashes that was captured from dashboard cameras. The study revealed that 9.5 percent of all crashes, and 10.5 percent of all crashes involving significant injuries or property damage, involved drowsy drivers.
“Drowsy driving is a bigger traffic safety issue than federal estimates show,” David Yang, executive director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, said. “Drivers who don’t get enough sleep are putting everyone on the road at risk. By conducting an in-depth analysis using video of everyday drivers, we can now better assess if a driver was fatigued in the moments leading up to a crash.”
Researchers evaluated video of drivers in the three minutes leading up to crashes. A scientific measure that links the percentage of time a subject’s eyes are closed to determine how drowsy they are was used to gauge the driver’s level of drowsiness.
“As many Americans struggle to balance their busy schedules, missing a few hours of sleep each day can often seem harmless,” Jake Nelson, director of traffic safety advocacy and research for AAA, said. “But missing just two to three hours of sleep can more than quadruple your risk for a crash, which is the equivalent of driving drunk.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 35 percent of drivers do not get the recommended seven hours of sleep per night, and that 96 percent of drivers do not view drowsy driving as a serious threat to their safety.