Trucks World News: SLEEP APNEA * USA - DOT Snoozes While Sleep Aid Industry Rules

Oct 2, 2008

SLEEP APNEA * USA - DOT Snoozes While Sleep Aid Industry Rules

USA -Integrity in Science Watch/GoozNews -September 29, 2008: -- People who drive for long stretches at a time are at risk of falling asleep behind the wheel. It's as true for the vacationers, but when it comes to long-haul truckers, the Department of Transportation has a greater responsibility than simply running public service ads offering this advice. To protect the motoring public, it sets rules for truckers, such as how many hours a driver can be on the road within a 24-hour period, and requires detailed logs of their driving and sleeping hours... If diagnosed with sleep apnea, truckers would have it noted on their licenses and could receive citations if caught sleeping at roadway rest stops without CPAP machines. Truckers fear the designation will limit their ability to get or change jobs in the industry. "This is disguised age discrimination without benefit of unemployment," said Linda Sunkle-Pierucki, a disabled trucker... According to a 2002 study by Pack, sleep apnea affects about 28 percent of truckers. However, that's about the same percentage as the general population...

Labels: sleep apnea