AAA Study Reveals Higher Accident Risk for Sleep Deprived Drivers

Drivers who receive less than the recommended seven hours of sleep a night are more likely to cause a car accident due to drowsy driving, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

The 2016 study was the first to quantify a relationship between sleep measurements and the risk of crashing a vehicle. It examined seven percent of all crashes from July 2005 to December 2007 that involved a vehicle.

The study found that the relationship between periods of sleep and accident risk include:

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

The accident risk associated with missing two to three hours of sleep in a 24-hour period is equivalent to the risk of being involved in an accident when driving over the legal limit for alcohol.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 27,875 traffic fatalities in the first nine months of 2016. The AAA Foundation’s study estimated that 21 percent of all fatal traffic accidents involved a sleep deprived driver.

Drowsy driving is a dangerous practice that poses a danger to motorists and pedestrians sharing the road. As the roads in Wisconsin could be still be affected by winter conditions, the Milwaukee auto accident lawyers at PKSD encourage drivers to get plenty of sleep before long-distance trips.

If you have been hurt or lost someone you love from a sleep deprived driver, you may have legal options and may be entitled compensation. Our team will review your claim through a free, no obligation consultation, and a personal injury lawyer in Milwaukee will not charge you any legal fees unless you receive a fair outcome in your case.

Call 414-333-3333 if you have been in a car accident caused by a negligent driver.