Survey: US Drivers Asleep Behind the Wheel

According to a AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety survey released on Monday, two out of five drivers say they have fallen asleep behind the wheel in the past year.

The survey of 2,000 U.S. residents over 16 years of age revealed that over 25% admitted having trouble staying awake while driving in the previous month alone.

The statistics are alarming, according to a AAA spokesperson, who said that drivers need to be aware of the dangers of driving while fatigued.

Fatigue can slow reaction times and impair a driver’s judgment in the same way that drugs or alcohol can.

The survey was released to coincide with Drowsy Driving Prevention Week, which is sponsored by the National Sleep Foundation.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics reveal that over 16.5 percent of deadly crashes each year involve a fatigued driver.