Sleep Test For Commercial Drivers
Truck drivers, bus operators, and railroad workers could join pilots in being mandated to test for sleep apnea under a proposed federal rule backed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA).
Tens of millions of Americans suffer from sleep apnea, a disorder in which breathing stops multiple times during sleep. The condition disrupts regular sleep patterns and, in the short-term, contributes to daytime drowsiness and fatigue; if not treated, sleep apnea can lead to severe medical problems including heart attack, high blood pressure and stroke.
Sleep Apnea Testing
The proposal from the FMCSA and the FRA, both of which are divisions of the U.S. Department of Transportation, seeks to screen and, if necessary, treat commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers and rail workers for sleep apnea.
The proposed rule focuses on obstructive sleep apnea, the most common form of sleep apnea. The National Transportation Safety Board previously recommended that the Department of Transportation take action to address obstructive sleep apnea assessment and treatment for commercial-vehicle drivers and train operators.
According to a Washington Post article about the proposal, 1,200 people were killed in accidents in 2013 in accidents caused by someone falling asleep at the wheel of a motor vehicle. A study of commercial drivers cited in the article indicates that sleep apnea testing and treatment could contribute to a 73 percent reduction in preventable accidents.
Sleeping on It
Licensed pilots are already required to undergo an obstructive sleep apnea screening, and the Washington Post story points out that the Federal Aviation Administration reported more than 4,900 pilots were receiving treatment for sleep apnea in 2015. The movement to test commercial drivers and rail operators has grown in recent years after a number of high-profile commercial accidents and commuter rail crashes that have killed dozens.
It is imperative for everyones safety that commercial motor vehicle drivers and train operators be fully focused and immediately responsive at all times, said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx in an FMSCA post on the proposal. The same FMSCA post notes that an estimated 22 million Americans may suffer from undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea.
So whats next for the proposed sleep apnea testing regulation? The process is currently in the public input phase. Comments can be submitted through June 8, and there will be three public fact gathering, informational sessions held across the country over the next three months. The proposal draft will then be revised for congressional review.
If you live in the South Florida area and you or a loved one suffers from chronic snoring and regular daytime drowsiness, please call the The Carlos Santos Pulmonary Consulting and Sleep Center at 305 653 0425 to schedule an appointment with a sleep apnea specialist. There are comfortable treatment options available to help you restore healthy, restful sleep.