Startling Facts About Drowsy Teen Driving

There are more drowsy driving incidents than the “official” count suggests

Drowsy driving is listed as a factor in about 7 percent of all crashes and more than 16 percent of fatal crashes. However, Lewis cites a study that suggests the number of drowsy crashes is more like 10 percent, and other data indicates that drowsiness may play a role in twice as many crashes as it gets credit for. The discrepancy stems from the fact that it’s not always possible to confirm that fatigue was a factor; also, since alcohol consumption frequently leads to dozing off while driving, many of those fatalities are categorized as drunk driving rather than fatigue-related crashes.

Less sleep equals more likelihood of a crash

Falling asleep at the wheel isn’t the only danger of drowsy driving. Drivers who’ve had only five or six hours of sleep are more prone to lapses in attention or judgment, such as failing to react to a changing traffic signal. The severely sleep-deprived are more likely to lose control of their vehicle, fall into a brief “microsleep,” or overcompensate after drifting out of their lane.

Teens are especially at risk

Many teens simply don’t get enough sleep, and research indicates that the risky driving behavior exhibited by teens increases as they become more sleep-deprived. For example, a teen who’s slept less than six hours is three times more likely to not use a seatbelt as one who’s slept at least eight hours.

Licensing restrictions help

Special state-imposed teen driver licensing requirements, such as those that place restrictions on late-night driving for drivers under 18, have helped to reduce the number of teen crashes over the past three decades. Other proposed policy changes that would lead to later school start times or promote awareness of the hazards of drowsy driving are also seen as encouraging developments that could save lives.