Study: Lack of Sleep Could Contribute to Crashes Involving Teens

02/16/2010

Parents and education professionals have long known that teenagers require plenty of sleep to help them stay focused in school. However, a recent study finds that a lack of sleep among teens could also produce a dangerous increase in the number of car crashes.

For families with new teen drivers, auto insurance costs tend to rise dramatically, although one way to control this financial burden is to put them on the parents' existing policies as opposed to starting a new one.

Statistics have also found that teenagers are more likely to be involved in crashes, in part because of their lack of experience but also because they tend to be more prone to unsafe behavior behind the wheel, from being distracted by friends to speeding to texting and using cell phones.

Now, a study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine cites a recent survey of students, 64 percent of whom complained of daytime sleepiness, and 40 percent of whom reported feeling sleepy while driving. Out of 339 students surveyed, 80 said they had already been involved in a car crash.

Another 15 percent of that group blamed the car crash directly on their lack of sleep.

Parents already have much to worry about with new teens, from safety to high auto insurance costs. Ensuring that they are well-rested may be one more safety tip for them to consider.

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