AAA study in 2016 showed a driver who has slept for less than five hours has a crash risk comparable to someone driving drunk. Drivers missing 2-3 hours of sleep in a 24 hour period more than quadrupled crash risk compared to drivers getting seven hours of sleep. = 3 times the crash risk

The AAA Foundation report found that in a 24-hour period, crash risk for sleep-deprived drivers increased steadily when compared to drivers who slept the recommended seven hours or more:

– Six to seven hours of sleep: 1.3 times the crash risk
– Five to six hours of sleep: 1.9 times the crash risk
– Four to five hours of sleep: 4.3 times the crash risk
– Less than four hours of sleep: 11.5 times the crash risk

Who’s likely to drive drowsy? Fifty-six percent of men compared to 45% of women drive drowsy and 22% of men have fallen asleep while driving compared to 12% of women. And drowsy driving by age is even more eye-opening:

– 52% of people aged 30 – 64
– 19% of people aged 65+- 71% of people aged 18 – 29!
– 51% of adolescents who drive report that they have driven drowsy in the past year
– 16% of 11 th graders and 1 out of 5 12th graders drive drowsy one or more times per week
– 75% of teens reported seeing their peers driving while fatigued