NTSB Recommends Screening for Sleep Apnea for Truck, Bus Drivers
A series of accidents and near-misses involving nearly all modes of transportation and drivers suffering from sleep apnea, has spurred the National Transportation Safety Board into action. The agency has recommended that commercial truck and bus drivers be screened for sleep apnea. The NTSB has recommended to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA) that medical examiners probe truck and bus drivers about sleep apnea, and make more efforts to identify the disorder in these drivers.
Earlier this year, the NTSB made similar recommendations to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and local transit agencies around the country. Those recommendations called for screening of airline pilots and train operators for sleep apnea. The move comes after a series of accidents involving sleep apnea and commercial vehicles, including trucks, buses and even cruise ships.
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that is far more common than you think. Persons suffering from this condition experience interruptions in breathing during sleep. These interruptions can last for just a few seconds, and there may be multiple episodes in a night. The disturbed sleep leads tiredness or drowsiness the next day.
Sleep apnea is often hard to diagnose. There may be no other symptoms except for drowsiness and fatigue, and doctors may misdiagnose this as chronic fatigue syndrome, if diagnosed at all. Anyone can suffer sleep apnea, but occurs more frequently in those who are “overweight”.
It’s important to stress here that commercial truck drivers may actually be at a higher risk of sleep apnea simply due to their lifestyle. A trucker may work long hours, eat an unhealthy diet, and enjoy little exercise, all contributing to obesity and placing him at a higher risk for sleep apnea. Without screening, drivers may not receive treatment for the condition, placing them and the motoring public at risk for a serious truck accident.
Jason Schultz is an Atlanta trucking accident attorney, helping injured victims of tractor trailer and semi truck accidents recover compensation for their injuries.
