A new study now shows "officially" what truckers deal with every day.  

Nearly 83.6 million drivers that use the nation’s highways every day are dangerously sleep-deprived, according to a newly released GHSA report, Wake Up Call! Understanding Drowsy Driving and What States Can Do.

The study is a “first-of-its-kind” report, examining the cause and effect of drowsy driving, as well as how states and others can best address this crisis. It explores what is known about the extent of drowsy driving, the crash characteristics, who is most at risk and the challenges associated with combating the problem.

The report considers drowsiness a form of impaired driving and suggests that driving without adequate sleep is just as dangerous as driving drunk, drugged or distracted. The report also addresses legislative, enforcement, education and engineering countermeasures being employed, as well as in-vehicle technologies that are available today or are planned for the near future.

It goes without saying that these drivers can have a negative impact on your next truck insurance quote.

In 2015, motor vehicle deaths were up 7.7% nationwide, with an estimated 5,000 lives lost in drowsy driving-related crashes. The report also helps individual states address the behavioral side of drowsy driving incidents through their State Highway Safety Offices (SHSO), focusing on crash characteristics and drivers who are most at risk.

“Teens and young adults are involved in more than half of all drowsy driving crashes annually,” pointed out Chris Mullen, Director of Technology Research at State Farm. “People who work nights or long or irregular shifts are also more likely to get behind the wheel when they are too tired to drive, along with the estimated 40 million Americans who suffer from a sleep disorder.”

Owner Operator Direct is a commercial truck insurance company. If you're an owner operator and not with us, you're probably not getting the best insurance coverage. Give us a ring at 800-499-1044 or get a quick quote online here: