Sleep-Deprived Shift Workers Three Times More Likely To Crash, Study Finds

A new University of Missouri study confirmed that sleep disorders elevate crash risk in drivers, especially workers with shift worker sleep disorder (SWSD) who were almost three times more likely to crash than other drivers.

Older drivers with SWSD were at even greater risk.

Drivers with sleep apnea and insomnia were 29 and 33% more likely to crash or almost crash, respectively, than the control group of about 4,000 volunteers around the country.

The human — and insurance — costs are high.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 91 thousand crashes involving drowsy drivers in 2017, which killed about 800 people and seriously injured another 50,000.