AAA report says drowsy driving is a major safety issue

(FOX 11/ FOX NEWS) - Drowsy driving may be a much bigger safety issue than previously believed.

A new report from AAA says that drowsiness is a factor in approximately one in 10 accidents, while government statistics based on police reports had previously estimated it to be involved in only 1 to 2 percent of crashes.

The organization conducted the largest study of its kind by placing cameras and data collection equipment in the cars of 3,593 volunteers over several years and monitoring the amount of time their eyes were closed prior to losing control.

The results were that drowsiness was determined to be a factor in 8.8 to 9.5 percent of all crashes and in 10.6 to 10.8 percent of serious incidents that involved damage or injury.

Read more at FOXNEWS.COM.