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Tag Archives: DWF
New Study: Crash risk soars among truck drivers who fail to adhere to sleep apnea treatment
A recently released study shows that the risk of a crash risk soars among truck drivers who fail to adhere to sleep apnea treatment.
Results show that the rate of serious, preventable crashes was 5 times higher among truck drivers with sleep apnea who failed to adhere to PAP therapy, compared with matched controls. In contrast, the crash rate of drivers with sleep apnea who were fully or partially adherent with treatment was statistically similar to controls.
“The most surprising result of our study is the strength and robustness of the increase in the crash risk for drivers with sleep apnea who fail to adhere to mandated treatment with positive airway pressure therapy,” said lead author Stephen V. Burks, PhD, professor of economics and management and principal investigator of the Truckers & Turnover Project at the University of Minnesota, Morris. “The results of our study support the establishment of obstructive sleep apnea screening standards for all drivers through the commercial driver’s medical exam.”
Read more here: Crash risk soars among truck drivers who fail to adhere to sleep apnea treatment
If we had a National Vision Zero Goal and Vision Zero Rulemaking Policies, what would we do with this information?
According to the authors, panels of medical experts previously convened by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) have recommended comprehensive sleep apnea screening for commercial drivers. However, rather than instituting mandatory screening, current federal regulations rely on drivers to self-report sleep apnea symptoms during a biennial medical examination to determine their fitness for duty. On March 8, 2016, the FMCSA and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued a joint Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, which is the first step as both agencies consider whether to propose specific requirements for screening, evaluating and treating rail workers and commercial motor vehicle drivers for obstructive sleep apnea.
If we were actually serious about saving lives, then we would do everything humanly possible to prevent crash deaths. Here’s a chance to do it right.
According to study co-author Charles A. Czeisler, PhD, MD, FRCP, chief of the Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Baldino Professor of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston. “Given that the risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, dementia and premature death are similarly increased in people with untreated obstructive sleep apnea, regulatory agencies worldwide owe it to truck drivers and to the motorists who share the road with them to require objective screening, diagnostic testing, and treatment adherence monitoring for all commercial drivers.”
NHTSA livestreaming Driving Behavioral Change in Traffic Safety conference, March 10 & 11
When I found out that NHTSA was holding a Driving Behavioral Change in Traffic Safety conference, I asked if they were going to be livestreaming this important event. The event coordinator said they would be and that she would let me know details when they were available.
Here is that information:
Thank you for your interest in the Driving Behavioral Change in Traffic Safety conference that is taking place Thursday, March 10 and Friday, March 11 in Washington. The event will run from 8:30 – 4:30 on Thursday and from 8:30 – Noon on Friday.
NHTSA will be streaming this event live at http://www.nhtsa.gov/nhtsa/symposiums/index.html. The link within that page for the webcast should be live this afternoon.
You may access the agenda by following this link: http://www.nhtsa.gov/nhtsa/symposiums/march2016/index.html
Please share these links with any of your colleagues who might be interested in watching this event. Thank you.
I also asked if it would be taped and made available online. Here is the answer: The plan is for them to be recorded and posted after the event. Our technical team tells me that they should be up Friday afternoon at the latest.
Here is a pdf of the agenda: Driving Behavioral Change in Traffic Safety Conference Agenda
I posted previously on this event/topic: https://annaleahmary.com/2016/02/nhtsa-hosting-discussion-of-the-behavioral-changes-necessary-to-achieve-near-zero-traffic-safety-deaths/
I hope that, in addition to looking at how to change personal driving behaviors, other factors which impact individual driving behaviors will be kept in mind as well.
- For example, an obvious one is what leads truck drivers to drive even when they are tired. https://annaleahmary.com/
tag/truck-driver-compensation/ - Also, technological aids such as alerting drivers to driver fatigue or getting phone manufacturers to build in features that make it simple to turn off when driving, etc. https://annaleahmary.com/
tag/distracted-driving/ - And things like addressing the notion that it is okay to drive while under the influence of marijuana. http://
annaleahmary.com/2015/02/ marijuana-impairs-judgment- reaction-times-awareness/ - Or a national awareness campaign to educate people about the dangers of microsleep. http://
americansleepandbreathingacade my.com/the-dots-war-on-drowsy- driving/ - Or more things like rumble strips along the side of the road.
- Or more electronic traffic signs which alert drivers to slowed traffic ahead. https://annaleahmary.com/
2016/02/can-electronic-road- signs-save-lives-crash-ahead- 7-miles-stay-alert/
Having studied Health Behavior & Health Education at the University of Michigan School of Public Health (and raised 9 children), I am well aware that simple awareness is not enough to change behavior.
I would also like to see proven safety measures more quickly adopted nationwide: Why on earth don’t we establish National Traffic Safety Standards & require them to be adopted by States?
What would I do if I were the National Traffic Safety Ombudsman?
NHTSA hosting discussion of the behavioral changes necessary to achieve near-zero traffic safety deaths
“The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is announcing a meeting that will be held in Washington, DC on March 10-11, 2016 to explore ways to promote evidence-based behavior change in a traffic safety setting.
“The Driving Behavioral Change in Traffic Safety workshop will include presentations and discussions on a number of topics including analysis and feasibility of using different approaches to changing behavior; exploring promising untested strategies; identifying long-term pathways to eliminate fatalities; and considering how evidence-based behavior change strategies can be used in the broader policy discussion.
“Attendance at the meeting is limited to invited participants because of space limitations of the DOT Conference Center. However, the meeting will be available for live public viewing on the NHTSA Web site (www.nhtsa.gov).” Meetings: Driving Behavioral Change in Traffic Safety
Sounds promising. . . I hope to see meaningful results which can be widely-dispersed. And focused on while also addressing environmental and vehicular causes of traffic deaths.
Are you aware that Death by Motor Vehicle is one of the leading causes of death?
Note: While taking classes at the University of Michigan in 1979 for my Master of Public Health degree in Health Behavior & Health Education, one of the things I learned, which has stuck with me, is that fear is not always the best motivator for changing behavior. In other words, knowing that something you do could end your life or that of someone else doesn’t necessarily change our actions. It doesn’t always sink in.
That needs to be kept in mind as we attempt to encourage better driving behavior.
“Fatigue and the criminal law.”
Should Driving While Fatigued be considered RECKLESS or NEGLIGENT when a person is driving an 80,000 lbs. death machine? Not a new question. Deserves an answer.
“Fatigue is an increasingly recognised risk factor for transportation accidents. In light of this, there is the question of whether driving whilst fatigued should be a criminal offence. This paper discusses the current legal position, including the problems of voluntary conduct and self awareness. Three models for reform are proposed. The manner in which scientific research can inform legal consideration and future directions for research are discussed.”
Ind Health. 2005 Jan;43(1):63-70.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15732306
Other related studies:
- “Fell asleep and caused a fatal head-on crash? A case study of multidisciplinary in-depth analysis vs. the court. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19214881
- “Convicted of fatigued driving: who, why and how? ” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19540978
- “[Tiredness and sleepiness in bus drivers and road accidents in Peru: a quantitative study].” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15333261
- “Modern medicine is neglecting road traffic crashes. ” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23776413
- “Acute cannabis consumption and motor vehicle collision risk: systematic review of observational studies and meta-analysis.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22323502
- “Psychomotor vigilance testing of professional drivers in the occupational health clinic: a potential objective screen for daytime sleepiness.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21826029
- “Visual vigilance in drivers with obstructive sleep apnea.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19616141
If a truck driver is prone to drive drowsy, what is the logical strategy to make him/her a safer driver? Forbid driving commercially? Require technology to alert to sleepiness? Convict of a reckless criminal offense if not used and a crash results leading to death or serious injury?
What Hours of Service (HOS) rules would make the most sense?
And ENFORCEMENT is oh so very important. In our crash, the Crash Report said, “No Medical Card found.” Yet, was any further mention made of this or investigation done into this? Not that I am aware of.
Driving While Fatigued = DWF = A Public Health Problem
“Despite Plenty of Anti-Sleep Gadgets, Truckers Still Fall Asleep at the Wheel”
A long article from the perspective of some truck drivers on the fatigue that tends to occur when driving for a living. . . http://motherboard.vice.com/read/despite-plenty-of-anti-sleep-gadgets-truckers-still-fall-asleep-at-the-wheel .
Imagine being the one who fell asleep at the wheel and killed someone as a result. Drowsy driving is too often ignored until it’s too late. Let’s do a better job of solving this problem, America.
DWF = Driving While Fatigued
A Gadget to Alert Drivers When They Nod Off at the Wheel; What are we waiting for, America?!
“Gadget to stop drivers nodding off at the wheel could become compulsory could be included in new European regulations” My goodness, if this can be done & would Save Lives, why would we NOT do it, America?! http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/12048267/Gadget-to-stop-drivers-nodding-off-at-the-wheel-could-become-compulsory.html
“Germans Develop Device to Stop Drivers Falling Asleep at the Wheel.” I remember reading about this previously: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/8122957/Germans-develop-device-to-stop-drivers-falling-asleep-at-the-wheel.html
DWF = Driving While Fatigued is a widespread problem that is largely ignored and difficult to recognize while you are in the thick of things (which makes it even more disastrous) — with potentially disastrous consequences. Under-reported. . . because it is not measurable after the fact.
https://annaleahmary.com/driver-fatigue/
Our crash may have been caused by truck driver drowsy driving.
FMCSA Finally Releases the Electronic Logging Devices Rule To Track Trucker Hours
We are excited to see that the FMCSA has released the final rule for Electronic Logging Devices designed to keep better track of truckers’ driving hours and to reduce truck driver fatigue.
After our truck crash on May 4, 2013, for which we never saw the truck driver’s paper log books, we are very happy about this. We never found out for sure why the truck driver who hit us was unable to slow down with the rest of the traffic–which was stopped for another crash two miles ahead of us. But we suspect that fatigue –drowsy driving — may well have played a part.
DWF = Driving While Fatigued
Here is the press release: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/newsroom/electronic-logging-devices-be-required-across-commercial-truck-and-bus-industries
and some articles:
- http://www.wgme.com//news/features/top-stories/stories/new-rules-effect-help-prevent-tired-trucking-30404.shtml#.Vms950orKM-
- http://fleetowner.com/regulations/fmcsa-unveils-final-eld-rule
- http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ata-pleased-by-release-of-electronic-logging-device-rule-300191276.html
- http://www.overdriveonline.com/e-log-mandate-set-to-take-effect-dec-2017-rule-to-be-published-by-fmcsa-friday/
- http://news.yahoo.com/rule-truck-drivers-must-electronically-083110416.html?soc_src=mail&soc_trk=ma
We are thankful that FMCSA has taken this important step to protect travelers on the road. We hope that it will also be followed by the best possible Hours of Service rules and better wage compensation for truck drivers who work hard to deliver the goods.
Thank you to everyone who signed the AnnaLeah & Mary Stand Up For Truck Safety Petition which we delivered to DOT on May 5, 2014. One of the three requests in that petition was for Electronic Logging Devices to be implemented.
FMCSA Ready to Study New Data on Trucker Hours of Service & Fatigue
FMCSA has been collecting data on truck driver hours of service; now they will analyze the data. Let’s hope that they will find clear answers to the driver fatigue dilemma.
“DOT enters next phase of 34-hour restart study” http://tinyurl.com/ppfwfpx
Driving While Fatigued (DWF) is definitely dangerous!
For more information on driver fatigue:
- https://annaleahmary.com/driver-fatigue/
- https://annaleahmary.com/tag/driver-fatigue/
- https://annaleahmary.com/tag/drowsy-driving/
This is a photo which the Georgia State Patrol took when they arrived at the scene of our truck crash. Truck driver fatigue may have been a factor; we never saw his paper log books.
Letter from wife of truck driver killed by fatigued truck driver: Federal studies show longer truck trailers dangerous.
By
on July 31, 2015 at 11:28 AM
“I am writing in response to Mark Rosenker’s July 28 letter, “Longer truck trailers have a good safety record.” Nearly three years ago my husband Brad, a truck driver, was killed by a fatigued truck driver who swerved off the road and struck Brad while he was standing on the shoulder. Sadly, this crash is not unique. All too often I read about a construction worker hit by a semi in a work zone, or a family crushed in their minivan simply because the truck driver did not apply the brakes soon enough.
Yet some people in Washington believe it’s time to increase the length of double tractor trailers, from 28 feet per trailer to 33 feet. Proponents of the increase rely on one study — industry-funded junk science that claims these longer trucks to be safer. That is false. . . ”
“. . . These differences could be what prompts yet another wife or mother to write a letter to the editor on truck safety.
Kim Telep
Harrisburg”
