Young drivers more likely to fall asleep behind wheel: survey

Washington – One in seven licensed drivers between 16 and 24 years old admitted to falling asleep while driving at least once in the past year – higher than the about 1 in 10 rate reported among all licensed drivers – according to a recent survey from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

AAA offers the following tips to help drivers be more alert behind the wheel:

• Sleep at least seven hours the night before a long driving trip.
• Avoid driving when you normally would be sleeping, if possible.
• Take a break from driving every two hours or every 100 miles.
• Drive with other licensed drivers who can take turns behind the wheel.
• Be aware of side effects from over-the-counter and prescription medications that could cause you to drive drowsily or inattentively.

According to a AAA press release, a 2010 analysis of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data found that 1 in 6 deadly roadway crashes involved at least one drowsy driver.