The news keeps rolling in about young adults and sleep—and none of it is good.

The National Sleep Foundation’s 2000 Sleep in America poll shows that 42% of adults ages 18-29 suffer from chronic sleep deprivation. According to the poll, the sleep deprivation is so severe that it rivals the notoriously sleep-deprived lives of shift workers.

What’s the reason? “ Too much to do,” report half the respondents. 52% report sacrificing sleep to “ get more done,” while 55% acknowledge frequent late nights watching television and surfing the Internet.

Does sleepiness affect work, or put us at increased risk for injury or death? Yes again—on all three counts. 20% of this age group admit to occasionally or frequently being late for work due to sleepiness, while 60% admit to driving drowsy.

What’s the kicker? One in five young adults admits to having dosed off behind the wheel in the last year alone!

That’s a lot of very tired high achievers, whose drive in the fast lane of life might just turn into a nightmare behind the wheel. The number one advice for this tired age group? Sleep before you drive, even if it’s only a twenty minute “ power nap”, and don’t forget to drink (more?) caffeine when you’ re on the road, to help keep alert.

If you plan ahead, you’ ll “ Arrive Alive.”