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Drowsy-driving dangers - Fatigue-related fatal and injury crashes cost a staggering $109 billion a year, not including property damage.

The decision to get behind the wheel or stay on the road despite feeling drowsy can be deadly. A new report from the Governors Highway Safety Association points out that nearly 83.6 million sleep-deprived Americans are driving every day. And it’s taking a toll — an estimated 5,000 lives were lost in drowsy driving-related crashes in 2015. In March 2015, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced the agency would take a comprehensive approach to preventing the tragedies attributed to driver drowsiness or fatigue.

The NTSB added human-fatigue to its current list of most wanted transportation safety improvements just this year. Clearly, the nation’s lack of sleep and its impact on driving is a threat to all drivers on the road and contributes to the increasing number auto insurance claims. The challenge is educating and engaging the public in order to create behavior change. Crashes involving sleepy drivers often involve a driver traveling alone at night, are likely to result in serious injury or death, typically involve a single vehicle leaving the roadway, and usually there is no evidence of braking. Drowsy drivers have slower reaction times, impaired judgment, increased levels of risk taking, and loss of visual awareness. Teens and young adults are particularly vulnerable.

You should practice the following safety tips to avoid becoming a drowsy driver statistic. Schedule frequent breaks on long trips, stop every two hours or 100 miles. Be well rested before hitting the road. Avoid driving between midnight and 7 am. Don't drive alone. Don't drink alcohol and don't rely on caffeine to keep you awake.