{"id":419,"date":"2018-03-30T15:49:55","date_gmt":"2018-03-30T15:49:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sleepdunwoody.com\/blog\/?p=419"},"modified":"2018-04-18T14:34:35","modified_gmt":"2018-04-18T14:34:35","slug":"sleep-deprivation-drowsy-driving","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sleepdunwoody.com\/blog\/2018\/03\/30\/sleep-deprivation-drowsy-driving\/","title":{"rendered":"The Drowsy Driving Epidemic"},"content":{"rendered":"\"drowsy\r\n\r\nMost people know that driving while sleep-deprived isn\u2019t a good idea, although they may admit to doing it at some time or another. The risks associated with drowsy driving may not even be something that crosses your mind, but it\u2019s important to know that operating any kind of vehicle while drowsy is not only risky — it can be fatal.<\/span>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n As revealed in a New York Times<\/a> article, two recent train crashes were associated with the failure to screen for sleep apnea<\/a>, one crash resulting in a fatality. Why is \u201cdriving while drowsy\u201d so dangerous, and what can you do to keep yourself safe on the road?<\/span>\r\n\r\nToday, we share the facts as well as a few tips you can implement to test whether you\u2019re alert enough to drive or if you should pull over. <\/span>\r\n

The Facts<\/b><\/h2>\r\nWithout adequate sleep, your brain\u2019s important cognitive functions — like alertness, performance, and coordination — start to drastically decline, making it more difficult to drive safely.<\/span>\r\n\r\nThe AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety recently reported that\u00a0<\/span>one in ten U.S. crashes are the result of drowsy driving<\/span><\/a>, which is nearly eight times more than what was previously estimated by federal regulators, according to NBC News. The <\/span>National Highway Traffic Safety Administration<\/span>\u00a0has conservatively estimated that over 100,000 police-reported crashes are the direct result of driver fatigue each year<\/a>.<\/span>\r\n\r\nAdditionally, AAA<\/span> revealed that people who sleep only five to six hours in a 24-hour period are two times more likely to crash<\/a> than those who sleep for seven hours. This proves that a difference of just one or two hours of sleep per night can drastically increase your risk of a crash.<\/span>\r\n\r\nIndicating the prevalence of drowsy driving, the <\/span>Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/span><\/a> also shared that an estimated one in 25 adult drivers report that they have fallen asleep behind the wheel in the past 30 days. <\/span>\r\n\r\nClearly, the data surrounding this issue confirms that drowsy driving is a serious national problem that definitively puts your health and life at risk, as well as those who may be in the car with you. <\/span>\r\n

Who is at Risk for Drowsy Driving?<\/h2>\r\nBecause we all require sleep to function, anyone can experience fatigue when they have not gotten enough rest, and therefore be more at risk for drowsy driving. \u00a0But some individuals and groups of people are more at risk than others. According to the <\/span>National Sleep Foundation<\/span><\/a>, those specifically at risk include:<\/span>\r\n