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A sobering new study shows America's tired population is creating a major hazard on the road.

According to a report just released by the CDC, more than 4% of Americans say they have recently fallen asleep while driving.

Experts admit that number could be even higher because many people don't realize they've drifted off for a moment.

Government awareness campaigns are quick to promote the dangers of drunk driving, but most people don't realize sleep depravation can be deadly. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says drunk drivers and distracted drivers combine for 13,000 road deaths each year, while drowsy drivers are also blamed for 2.5% of deadly crashes every year.

Tired drivers have a slower reaction time, pay less attention to their surroundings, and have a harder time processing what's happening on the road around them.

The CDC's new study shows the most common offenders tend to be adult males who get less than six hours of sleep each night. Shift workers, professional drivers, and people with pre-existing sleep disorders also create an elevated risk on the road.

PROTECT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY

You can reduce your risk of driving drowsy with these tips from the National Sleep Foundation:

Get a good night's sleepDon't drive long trips by yourselfSchedule regular stops about every two hoursAvoid alcohol and medications while driving

Get more advice on avoiding tired driving here, or read more on the CDC's study at this link.

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