U.S. Wants to Curb Drowsy Driving, But How?

Drowsy driving in the U.S. is a factor in 1,000 deaths and 72,000 crashes annually. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration wants to address the issue, but the agency faces a major hurdle: how to measure drowsiness.

NHTSA concedes that, unlike measurable blood alcohol levels in drunk drivers, drowsiness is a condition without a definitive test.

Most at risk are male drivers ages 16-29, people who work late or irregular hours and those with untreated sleep disorders. NHTSA says crashes involving drowsy drivers are more likely to occur late at night, early in the morning or mid-afternoon. Such crashes also tend to be serious, mainly because the driver doesn't attempt to reduce speed or avoid objects.

A few states have awareness programs and drowsy-driving laws on the books. NHTSA says it will use them as models to shape its campaign.