Drowsy Driving Among College Students

As winter break approaches, many students will be driving home for the holidays. This is a crucial time, then, to alert them to the dangers of drowsy driving. The common effects of driving while drowsy include becoming stressed, getting impatient and driving faster—a dangerous, and commonly fatal, combination.

The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) developed a website dedicated to creating awareness and providing resources for preventing this dangerous problem at www.drowsydriving.org.

The grim accident statistics speak loud and clear—the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) conservatively estimates that 100,000 police-reported crashes are the direct result of driver fatigue each year.

Striking even closer to home are the findings from the NSF on young people and drowsy driving:

• Approximately 55% of drowsy driving crashes are caused by drivers less than 25 years old.
• Being awake for 18 hours is equal to a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08%, which is legally drunk and leaves you at equal risk for a crash.

Also See:

Drowsy Driving Basics for College Students

Back to top