Citation

Wheaton AG, Shults RA, Chapman DP, Ford ES, Croft JB. MMWR Morb. Mortal. Wkly. Rep. 2014; 63(26): 557-562.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, (in public domain), Publisher U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

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Abstract

As many as 7,500 fatal motor vehicle crashes in the United States each year might involve drowsy driving, and 4.2% of adult respondents to a 2009-2010 survey reported falling asleep while driving at least once during the previous 30 days. Adults who reported usually sleeping ≤6 hours per day, snoring, or unintentionally falling asleep during the day were more likely to report falling asleep while driving than adults who did not. CDC analyzed data regarding drowsy driving by selected characteristics, including sleep patterns and risk behaviors, from 92,102 adult survey respondents in 10 states and Puerto Rico in 2011-2012. Among the respondents, 4% reported having fallen asleep while driving in the previous 30 days. In addition to known risk factors, drowsy driving was more prevalent among men, younger drivers, binge drinkers, and among drivers who did not regularly use seatbelts compared with other respondents. Interventions designed to reduce binge drinking and alcohol-impaired driving, to enforce seatbelt use, and to encourage adequate sleep and seeking treatment for sleep disorders might contribute to reductions in drowsy driving crashes and their related deaths and injuries.

Language: en