Sleep Deficiency Doubles Motor Vehicle Crash Risk in General Population
How Much Does Sleep Deficiency Increase Your Risk of Car Accidents?
Sleep deficiency significantly increases motor vehicle crash risk, with this large prospective study showing that sleep-deprived drivers have approximately twice the risk of being involved in a motor vehicle accident compared to well-rested drivers. The research found that drivers getting less than 7 hours of sleep per night had progressively higher crash rates, with those getting less than 4 hours of sleep having crash rates similar to drivers with blood alcohol concentrations above the legal limit. Even modest sleep restriction (5-6 hours) significantly increased accident risk, demonstrating that drowsy driving is a major public safety concern.