Could an extra hour of sleep prevent serious car accidents?

Our society faces chronic stress and sleep deprivation. Every morning, we turn off our alarms well before our bodies are ready and hit the ground running. After filling up a large coffee mug, we jump in the car and drive to the office, to the gym or to drop children off at school. But could missing out on your body’s preferred seven hours of sleep be more serious than yawning fits and a dependence on caffeine?