Dozy Driving is the New DUI

Apparently one doesn’t have to be either impaired or distracted to become a highway hazard. According to a recent report conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety in Washington, D.C., drowsy drivers are now responsible for 21 percent of all fatal car crashes and a third of all accidents involving injuries. “This new research further confirms that drowsy driving is a serious traffic safety problem,” warned Peter Kissinger, President and CEO of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “Unfortunately, drivers often underestimate this risk and overestimate their ability to combat drowsiness behind the wheel.” According to the AAA, signs its time to find a safe place to pull over and take a break include: the inability to recall the last few miles traveled; disconnected or wandering thoughts; difficulty focusing or keeping your eyes open; feeling as though your head is very heavy; drifting out of a driving lane or onto a rumble strip; yawning repeatedly; accidentally tailgating other vehicles; and missing traffic signs.