Drivers who deprive themselves of one to two hours of the suggested seven hours of sleep a night are two times as likely to be involved in a traffic collision, according to a study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.
The 2016 study revealed that drivers who missed two to three hours of sleep in a 24-hour period were four times as likely to crash their vehicle compared to those who slept for the recommended seven hours. Researchers analyzed data taken from a sample pool of 7,234 drivers who were involved in 4,751 collisions.
Officials who worked on the study concluded that a driver who gets behind the wheel after sleeping less than five hours is similar to an individual operating a vehicle while impaired.
Disturbing Report Findings
With more than five fatal collisions annually attributed to drowsy driving, the AAA Foundation has warned that drivers who get less than the recommended seven hours may encounter deadly results on the road.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that 35 percent of U.S. drivers do not receive the recommended seven hours each day and this reality could contribute to auto accident deaths.
The AAA Foundation’s report analyzed drivers who had not received the recommended amount of sleep within a 24 hour period and found that their crash chance increased significantly. The findings include:
- Less than four hours of sleep: 11.5 times
- Four to five hours of sleep: 4.3 times
- Five to six hours of sleep: 1.9 times
- Six to seven hours: 1.3 times
Although 97 percent of drivers polled told the AAA Foundation that drowsy driving was unacceptable and threatens safety, almost one third stated they had driven while being so tired they could barely keep their eyes open within the last 30 days.
Symptoms of drowsy driving include:
- Lane drifting
- Not remembering how many miles were driven
- Finding it difficult to keep your eyes open
AAA encourages drivers not to rely on bodily indicators regarding fatigue and to plan on sleeping at least seven hours a night. Have you been injured in a car accident with a negligent driver who was fatigued and behind the wheel? If so, the Las Vegas auto accident attorneys at Henness & Haight are available to represent your best interests and pursue the compensation you deserve.
Contact our office today and receive a free case review. Because we work on a contingency basis, we will not charge you fees unless you receive a favorable outcome.