Research presented at the recent Associated Professional Sleep Societies (APSS) meeting suggests that early school starts may predispose sleep-deprived teens to an increased risk of car accidents.
The study compared two counties in Virginia, one with early school start times (7:20 a.m.) and one with later ones (8:40 a.m.). It found there were 65.4 car crashes for every 1,000 teen drivers in the early-risers, and just 46.2 crashes per 1,000 teen drivers in those allowed to sleep in.
The research adds to a growing body of evidence that later start times help teens to be more successful, get better grades, get along better with peers, better control their emotions and avoid depression, and lower their risk of suicide. Research shows that when school starts later, teens tend to get more sleep. Teen sleep can also be improved with simple tips.
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