Dangers Of Sleep Deprivation In Teens Who Drive Highlighted In New Study

Teenagers who drive are at risk when they don't get enough sleep. A new study highlights that sleep deprivation in teenagers is as much a threat as drunk-driving and texting while handling the steering wheel.

The study, published in the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbility and Mortality Weekly Report, revealed that lack of sleep is a common problem among high school students and it could trigger high-risk behaviors. Some 50,000 teenagers from grades 9 to 12 were asked in a survey about their sleeping habits and activities and at least 68.8 percent said they average seven hours of sleep a night. Experts advise that children between the ages of 13 to 18 years should at least get 9 to 9 and a half hours of sleep, per Nationwide Childrens Organization.

From the scenarios presented to the students in the survey, researchers found out that those with insufficient sleep have difficulty concentrating behind the wheel. But more than this, their ability to make decisions and to weigh its consequences are also diminished by sleep impairment. Many of the sleep-deprived teenagers who drive reported that they often disregard using car seat belts, or drive drunk when they have been told to never do this, or leave out using helmets when biking.

However, the study also showed that teenagers who get an average of 10 hours of sleep at night, in about 1.8 percent of the respondents, are also prone to high-risk behaviors. The reason for this might be related to depression rather than sleep impairment, per Los Angeles Times. Oversleeping is the most common symptom in depressed young adults, per the Sleep Foundation.

Promoting healthy sleep is one of the goals of the U.S. government as 25 percent of adults are believed to have sleep-related problems, per Healthy People. Teaching and guiding teenagers to develop a healthy sleeping habit should help reduce their health risks later. Good sleep can strengthen their immune system to help fight diseases and infections and allow them to function effectively.

Learn more about sleep deprivation in teens in the video below: