Sleep apnea an accident risk for truck drivers

A recent study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine established that truck drivers suffering from obstructive sleep apnea have a higher rate of being involved in truck accidents.  Obstructive sleep apnea is strongly associated with being overweight and results in the person with the condition stopping breathing while asleep.  Sleep apnea results in poor quality rest and results in feeling more tired.  Truck drivers found to be sleep apnea sufferers experienced truck accidents at a rate seven times higher than those who did not have sleep apnea. 

Current trucking regulations curtail the number of hours which truck drivers can be on the road.  The purpose of this regulation is to avoid having fatigued drivers behind the wheel of a semi-truck because it has been well-established in the trucking industry that fatigue contribute to poor driving decisions and an increased rate of serious accidents.  We also screen truck drivers for conditions which leave them prone to having seizures or heart attacks while behind the wheel.  Given the serious safety implications of sleep apnea, this is probably a condition that should be screened for as well.  However, given the time and expense of screening, that will probably never come to pass.