In addition, 53 percent of American drivers report driving drowsy, and 19 percent also report nodding off behind the wheel. 23 percent of American drivers claim to personally know someone who has crashed due to drowsy driving.

According to officials inside the automobile insurance industry, most of the statistics concerning drowsy driving crashes are “conservative estimates,” because there is no scientific way to measure driver sleepiness out in the field. The majority of police officers have never been trained to evaluate drowsy driving symptoms, and though it may be the cause in a majority of "accidents with injuries" – nobody knows exactly how widespread the problem really is.

Here’s what is known. Drivers tend to fall asleep more often on high-speed rural highways with lots of long straight aways. Drivers under the age of 26 represent about 55 percent of all drowsy driving crashes. Of the nation’s 20 million night shift workers, 30 percent have had a fatigue-related driving mishap during the past year. Long Haul truck drivers are another high risk group along with overnight cab drivers and other delivery personnel.

Every driver is susceptible to falling asleep at wheel. Drowsy driving crashes happen both at night and during the day. Moreover, 40 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders (most left untreated). Studies show sleep disorders such as “Sleep Apnea” can increase the risk of a motor vehicle accident by up to 7 times.

The New York State Police estimated that 40 percent of all fatal crashes along the New York State Thruway were the result of drivers falling asleep at the wheel. After placing shoulder rumple strips at 13 locations along the NYS Thruway, state officials found that drowsy driving related crashes were reduced by 84 percent. This kind of success shows just how preventable sleep related crashes really are.

Though rumple strips are part of the answer, drivers must also learn how to prevent their own accidents. While dosing off is the biggest concern, today's drivers also have to be alert to other drivers who may be nodding behind the wheel. Staying safe on the highway means the average driver has to become proactive in the prevention of drowsy driving crashes.

There are a few tools drivers can use to wake up when hitting the road. Caffeine can help somewhat, but beware. While caffeine promotes short-term mental alertness, the effects may not be strong enough for people who regularly consume caffeine. Most importantly, caffeine can take up to 30 minutes to begin working. Caffeine based stimulants can also have significant side effects such as heart complications and stomach upset.

There is also an “All Natural” non-caffeinated alternative that can wake up drowsy drivers with powerful and safe results. Known as the world’s first hot pepper nasal spray, “Sinus Buster” was originally designed to relieve a multitude of sinus and headache conditions, but in a recent study by the Immunity Institute of Finland, Sinus Buster was also found to be highly effective against the symptoms of drowsy driving.

This 2005 focus study was conducted with a group of 100 volunteers ranging from (23 – 84 years). At the end of the study, 80 percent of volunteers reported experiencing an significant increase in mental alertness. This group also suggested Sinus Buster was a valuable tool for waking them up while driving – especially on long trips.

According to the manufacturer, SiCap Industries, the intranasal delivery of their natural hot pepper spray gives the user an instant jolt of mental and physical alertness.

“One shot of Sinus Buster instantly awakens even the drowsiest driver and it can be used safely as often as needed. It’s completely natural and immediately effective plus it clears your sinuses like nothing else can,” says Wayne Perry, president of SiCap Industries.

According to road safety experts, sleep related crashes can be reduced significantly if drivers follow some very simple prevention tips.

Anti-Drowsy Driving Safety Tips:
·    Make sure you get enough sleep before driving. The average adult needs 7-9 hours of sleep to maintain alertness throughout the day.
·    Plan to take breaks at 2 hour intervals (or every 120 miles) during long trips.
·    Try to avoid taking long trips alone. It’s better to have a passenger to chat with and to share driving duties.
·    Avoid alcohol and narcotics. This includes prescription and OTC medications that that may cause drowsiness.
·    Consume caffeine -- 2 cups of coffee can increase mental alertness for up to three hours.
·    Take along a bottle of Sinus Buster on your trip and use it whenever you’re feeling mentally or physically tired.
·    At the first sign of fatigue, exit to a safe location and rest. If you’re alone, take a nap (20 – 30 minutes will due). If you’ve been traveling more than 6 total hours for the day, it’s best to get a hotel and rest for the night.