Drowsy Driving Causes Almost A Quarter Of Fatal Accidents

By Amy E. Feldman

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Guess what causes more than 20% of traffic fatalities. Not what you think.

Two Oklahoma State football players were arrested last month after they fell asleep while driving through the drive thru line of a Whataburger. Luckily, the driver had his foot on the brake instead of the gas. Unluckily, the driver was so out of it that, once awakened, he was unable to turn off the car without assistance.

While alcohol was suspected in the what-a-moron incident, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety released the results of its survey last month in which it analyzed almost 14,000 car crashes in the last five years and found that 21% of crashes resulting in death were caused not by drunk driving but by drowsy driving which it defined as either feeling sleepy and fatigued or falling asleep at the wheel.

Which is a good reminder that even if you aren't impaired by alcohol, if you're tired you may not be driving safely.

So, if you need a burger in the middle of the night, call a cab or call a delivery service which will be cheaper than paying a lawyer and cause less heartache even after getting on the scale the next morning.