According to ABC News, the Asleep at the Wheel forum held in Washington, DC, highlights new statistics regarding drowsy driving accidents and related fatalities.

As part of the National Drowsy Driving Prevention Week, NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind today presented alarming facts and figures on the prevalence and danger of driving while fatigued or sleepy.

In opening remarks at the Asleep at the Wheel forum this morning in Washington, D.C., Rosekind estimated that between 5,000 and 7,000 lives are lost each year in the United States because of drowsy driving.

The former NTSB board member revealed new statistics indicating an estimated 39.5 percent of major NTSB highway investigations between 2001 and 2012 identified fatigue as at least a contributing factor to the incident. When looking at all major NTSB investigations, 20 percent had a fatigue element to the investigation.

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