Drowsy Drivers at Risk for Accidents, Higher Automobile Insurance

People who take unnecessary risks behind the wheel are likely to pay more for automobile insurance over time because of the greater chance they'll cause an accident.

However, even people who consider themselves safe drivers could be at risk if they get behind the wheel when they're in danger of drifting off to sleep. According to the National Sleep Foundation, nearly 2 million drivers had an accident or near-accident last year because they were drowsy or falling asleep behind the wheel.

"Too many Americans are exhausted when they get behind the wheel, and they may not fully understand how dangerous it is to drive while drowsy," said National Sleep Foundation CEO David Cloud.

People who do feel drowsy behind the wheel are generally advised to find a safe place to pull over and take a nap if necessary. Some danger signs include drifting into other lanes and having difficulty focusing or keeping one's head up.

Elsewhere, the National Road Safety Foundation has estimated that about 37 percent of drivers have fallen asleep behind the wheel at one time or another. Given the widespread nature of the problem and the risk for property damage, injuries and higher automobile insurance costs, it only makes sense to get some rest before taking a long road trip.