According to the AAA, Drowsy Driving causes nearly one out of six deadly traffic accidents and one out of eight crashes that results in a hospital visit. Over 40% of drivers admit to having “fallen asleep or nodded off” while driving according to the AAA’s 2010 national survey of U.S. drivers. Perhaps most alarming is the fact that these statistics may not reflect the full extent of the problem.

Hyperarousal is one reason for the under-reporting of accidents that result from drowsiness. In part caused by the adrenaline rush following an accident, hyperarousal often eliminates noticeable signs of impairment due to drowsiness and fatigue. The detectable signs of drowsiness are erased by the turmoil that commonly follows an accident, so the cause of the crash is not reported.

Read the full article here: https://duinewsblog.org/2012/11/25/drowsy-or-drunk/