Healthy Living
AAA: Actual Drowsy Driving Deaths Are 10X More Than Previously Estimated — Here’s What You Can Do
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Fatalities in car crashes are 10 times higher than previously estimated, according to a new study by the American Automobile Association. As clocks spring forward for Daylight Saving Time on Sunday, the risk of drowsy driving crashes will also jump. — an announcement from AAA Northeast
Research has found that crashes tend to increase in the days following the spring time change as drivers get behind the wheel while sleep-deprived and with their circadian rhythms out of whack. Previous AAA studies have outlined the risks associated with drowsy driving: drivers who slept for less than five hours the night before may have a crash risk comparable to driving drunk, and losing just a couple hours of sleep can double the risk of a crash. Official statistics on the prevalence of drowsy driving have long been underestimated, since most drivers don’t admit to being drowsy after a collision.