Asleep at the Wheel? Survey Says Majority Admit Driving Drowsy

Two months after comedian Tracy Morgan was seriously injured in an accident involving a truck driver who allegedly had not slept for 24 hours, a survey says nearly seven in ten motorists admit they have driven while drowsy. The survey by CarInsurance.com also showed that more than six in 10 have gotten behind the wheel when there’s a “Check Engine” light on, while nearly a third have headed out on a winter morning when they couldn’t see through snowy or icy windshields. Drowsy driving has been blamed for one in eight highway deaths, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. A 2013 study by the Centers for Disease Control found one in 24 adults admitting to having fallen asleep behind the wheel at least once in the previous month. Morgan, who suffered a broken leg and broken ribs when his limousine van was hit from behind on the New Jersey Turnpike, has sued Wal-Mart alleging the retail giant should have known its driver had been awake for over 24 hours. His lawsuit alleges the driver fell asleep at the wheel.

IN DEPTH

• Tracy Morgan speaks out following deadly car crash: 'I feel strong!'
• Truck Accidents Surge, But There's No National Outcry