Are overweight commercial truck drivers more likely to be involved in a truck accident? It may sound like a ridiculous question, but according to a recent study, this may indeed be the case. The November issue of Accident Analysis & Prevention reports that sleep apnea is more commonly found in obese individuals and can cause fatigue and sleepiness. This could be problematic and dangerous for obese truck drivers.
“That’s when the data stood up and shouted at us,” says researcher John Anderson, a biostatician at the University of Minnesota. “We found really clear evidence that the highest-BMI drivers are at higher risk of having an accident.”
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) as many as 28 percent of all commercial truck drivers may have sleep apnea. Symptoms include limited agility and “obesity fatigue.” Commercial truck drivers should schedule regular doctor appointments and keep their weight under control for not only their own safety, but other motorists as well. For more information on truck accidents, please visit our website.
Spevack Law Firm—Middlesex County truck accident attorneys
