in 2008 eight Hoosiers died in car accidents related to drowsy driving.

"That may seem like a low number," said Indiana State Police Sgt. Joe Watts. "But that's eight families that were effected."

Nationwide more than 1,500 people die each year because of sleep deprivation behind the wheel.

One of the most startling statistics about drowsy driving is that it can be as dangerous as drinking and driving.

Susan Pershing is the director of the sleep lab at Sullivan County Community Hospital. She says falling asleep for even a second can be fatal.

"They have found that if you fall asleep for 2.5 seconds while driving you will have traveled at 70 miles per hour the length of a football field," Pershing said. "So those people who think they dosed off for three seconds have traveled quite a distance and had a lot of people around them."

Sgt. Watts says the best thing to do when feeling tired is to take a break.

"We recommend if you are traveling long distances pull over every 100 miles and take a break," he suggests. "If you have to your safety is number one so if you have to pull over in a secure area and take a small nap."

Pershing says in many cases people are sleep deprived and don't even know it.

That's because they don't know how much sleep is enough.

She's says it's a simple formula.

"You actually have to sleep one hour for every two hours you are awake," Pershing says. "Being up for 16 hours and sleeping for eight hours takes away that sleep deprivation."

It also takes away the risk of a crash or something worse.

Doctors say the best thing you can do to prevent sleep deprivation is to get between six and eight hours of uninterrupted sleep each night.

That's actual sleep; not watching TV or reading in bed.