Study blames drowsy driving for thousands of deaths

November 8, 2010

A new study shows drowsy driving causes more than 5,500 traffic deaths each year. It's a factor in nearly 17 percent of all fatal crashes, according to study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Forty-one percent of those surveyed admit to falling asleep at the wheel.

Back in 1994, drowsy driving was a factor in only 3.6 percent of fatal crashes.

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