Driving while drowsy biggest risk factor

Massive new government driving safety study finds that drowsiness increases the likelihood of crashes by four to six times.

April 20, 2006; Posted: 12:38 p.m. EDT (1638 GMT)

Drowsiness is the single biggest attention-related risk factor on the road, said a new study released Thursday. RESEARCH A NEW CAR Get invoice and market prices, specs, reviews and photos. • Sport • Sedans • SUVs • Luxury Pick Category: Minivans Sedans SUVs Coupes/Hatchbacks Sport Convertibles Wagons Crossover Exotic Luxury Pickups Check Latest Incentives GET A QUOTE 1. Select Brand: Pick Brand: 2. Select Model: Pick Model: 3. Enter ZIP:   RESEARCH USED CAR Find cars for sale in your neighborhood. 1. Select Year: Pick Year: 2. Select Brand: Pick Brand: 3. Enter ZIP:   Research All Used Cars

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - Drowsiness is the single biggest attention-related risk factor on the road, said a new study released Thursday that followed drivers constantly through commutes and crashes alike.

Driving while drowsy increases the driver's risk of getting into a crash or near-crash by four to six times, according to the report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Engaging in complex tasks other than driving - like dialing a hand-held device or applying make-up - was the second biggest risk factor, increasing crash probability by three times.

NHTSA put cameras in 100 cars, and filmed as they logged 2 million driving miles.

The agency kept track of four different types of driving distraction: drivers doing other tasks, drowsiness, inattention to the roadway, and eye glances away from the roadway.

They found that engaging in 'moderate' secondary tasks - such as inserting a CD, eating or fixing hair - doubled drivers' crash risk.

Complex secondary tasks were defined as those requiring either multiple steps, multiple eyeglances away from the forward roadway, and multiple button presses. Moderate secondary tasks are those that require, at most, two glances away from the roadway and at most two button presses.

The study also found that drivers who had inattention-related incidents weren't just getting caught at unlucky moments - they were involved in many more inattention-related activities as a pattern.

Surprisingly, inattention to the forward roadway was safer than normal driving. This is because drivers who engage in checking areas other than immediately ahead of them are generally alert and scanning their driving environments.

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