Transcript Document
Asleep at the Wheel: The Prevalence and Impact of Drowsy Driving Background • Most past studies of crash data estimate roughly 1% - 4% of crashes involve a drowsy driver BUT • Many researchers believe that official statistics underestimate the prevalence of drowsy driving AND • A few studies using different data and methods have suggested that the prevalence of drowsy driving may be much higher The Study Published November 8, 2010 Available online at www.AAAFoundation.org Part I: Prevalence of Drowsy Driving among Drivers Method •Data collected as part of the AAA Foundation’s 2010 Traffic Safety Culture Index •Nationally-representative telephone survey of 2,000 U.S. residents 16 and older, conducted May 11 – June 7, 2010 •Asked respondents about experiences with falling asleep at the wheel and general drowsy driving Key Findings •41% reported having “fallen asleep or nodded off” while driving at least once in their lifetime •11% in past year • 4% in past month •27% said they had driven while they were “so sleepy that [they] had a hard time keeping [their] eyes open” in the past month Additional Findings • Men much more likely than women (52% vs. 30%) to report having fallen asleep while driving •Only 21% reported they had been driving for three hours or more when they fell asleep at the wheel; 59% said they had been driving for less than an hour before falling asleep; • Only 28% said they felt sleepy when they started driving; 71% said they felt awake enough to drive Part II: Proportion of Crashes Involving a Drowsy Driver Method •Analyzed data from nationally-representative sample of crashes in which a car, light truck, van, or SUV was towed • Years 1999 – 2008 • Sample included 80,821 vehicles involved in 47,597 crashes • Drowsiness = unknown in 45% of cases used statistical technique of multiple imputation to estimate proportion that were drowsy % of Crashes that Involved a Drowsy Driver 16.5% 13.1% 7.0% All Crashes Admitted to Hospital Fatal Maximum injury severity in crash Data: Representative sample of 47,597 crashes in which a passenger vehicle was towed, 1999 – 2008. (National Automotive Sampling System Crashworthiness Data System, compiled by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) Missing values of drowsiness imputed 10 times and averaged. Additional Findings • Drivers 16-24 years old nearly twice as likely to be involved in a drowsy driving crash as drivers ages 40+ •Two out of three drivers involved in a drowsy driving crash were men • Drivers travelling alone nearly 2x as likely to be in drowsy driving crash compared to drivers with passengers • 57% of drowsy driving crashes were single vehicle crashes where driver drifted out of lane or off road Tips for Avoiding Drowsy Driving • Get at least 6 hours of sleep the night before a long trip (preferably 8; no less than 6) • Travel at times you are normally awake; stay overnight en route instead of trying to drive straight through • Schedule a break every 2 hours or 100 miles • Don’t work all day and drive all night • Travel with a passenger who is awake • Drink a caffeinated beverage, but remember that it takes 30 minutes for effects to kick in For more information, go to: AAAFoundation.org The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is a 501(c)(3) public charity located in Washington, DC that is dedicated to saving lives and reducing injuries. It is supported by donations from AAA/CAA Clubs, AAA/CAA members, and other organizations associated with AAA/CAA.