ATLANTA — A new report from the National Sleep Foundation finds millions of people are driving drowsy, and a large percentage of them are unaware.
The National Sleep Foundation says Nov. 1-7 marks Driving Drowsy Prevention Week, and officials are reminding the public about steps to prevent drowsy driving.
The report estimates 145 million adults have driven drowsy, including nearly 35 million who do so at least once a month.
According to the report, about 40 percent of people don’t recognize warning signs, including frequent blinking, head-nodding or drifting out of their lane.
Officials say sleep plays a crucial role in maintaining good mental health.
“Understanding the associations between sleep health characteristics and mental health in the general population, and how practicing healthy sleep behaviors can promote better mental health is critical to public health,” National Sleep Foundation officials said.
Data shows drowsy driving is responsible for 1 in 5 deadly crashes.
Among those with the highest risk include males under 25 years old, shift workers and people who work long hours, commercial and long-haul drivers and business travelers.
People with undiagnosed or untreated sleep disorders are also at a high risk of drowsy driving, according to the National Sleep Foundation.
The National Sleep Foundation says risk factors for drowsy driving include:
- Lack of sufficient quality sleep. Most adults need 7-9 hours of sleep per night to maximize alertness.
- Use of substances or medications that cause drowsiness.
- Driving long hours without breaks, especially during the body’s natural dips in the circadian rhythm, typically in the early afternoon and between midnight and 6 a.m.
- Undiagnosed, untreated, or under-treated medical conditions, especially sleep disorders associated with daytime sleepiness, such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), insomnia, or narcolepsy.
National Sleep Foundation officials say warning signs of drowsy driving include:
- Difficulty focusing thoughts, starting to daydream, wandering eyes Having trouble remembering the last few miles driven
- Missing an exit or ignoring traffic signs
- Yawning repeatedly or rubbing your eyes
- Nodding off or finding it hard to keep your head up
- Drifting from your lane, tailgating, or hitting a shoulder rumble strip Feeling restless and irritable, or becoming aggravated with common annoyances such as sitting in traffic.