Asleep At the Wheel: Drivers Unaware of How Drowsy They Are

Something that most drivers experience but may not realize until it's too late – feeling drowsy – plays an undetermined role in traffic crashes, injuries, and deaths. Although underreported in government statistics, previous research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has estimated that 16 percent to 21 percent of all police-reported fatal vehicle crashes likely involve drowsy driving. And new Foundation research finds that drivers may underestimate their drowsiness, leading them to stay behind the wheel rather than stopping for a much-needed break.

"Motorists need to understa...