According to the National Highway Transportation Board,driver drowsiness and fatigue account for more than 1500 deaths a year on our highways. In April of 1999, the National Sleep Foundation stated that millions of Americans suffer from daytime sleepiness. Many times a driver doesn't even realize he has fallen asleep, or may be reluctant to admit to it. The sleepiness just sneaks up on drivers.
A recent study, however revealed that 15% of middle-aged adults reported falling asleep at the wheel. It is well passed time to take a few precautions. There are many factors leading to this problem -- overwork, medication, late or night shifts, alcohol.
Yet another cause of drowsy driving and falling asleep at the wheel is the presence of a sleep disorder. Sleep apnea affects a lot of drivers. A recent study done at Stanford University Sleep Research Center revealed that revealed that, of the 159 commercial sleep drivers who participated, seventy-eight per cent suffered from sleep apnea! This is a really terrifying thought.
This condition is prevalent in bus and truck drivers because of their lifestyles.They spend long hours sitting at the wheel of their vehicle, get little exercise and often eat at fast food outlets. Add the threat of apnea to a driver already plagued by fatigue from long hours on the road, and you have a very dangerous situation.
Dr. Mark Mahowald,past president of the National Academy of Sleep Medicine has declared that the failure to test commercial truck and bus drivers for sleep apnea is absolutely indefensible. As far back as August 1998 Federal Highway officials proposed screening drivers for apnea during the requited physical done every two years.
With more drivers on the road, with the increase in long working hours, and with the growing propensity toward sleep apnea in commercial drivers, it's time some steps were taken to eliminate this problem. it's time to improve the safety of the highways for our families.
