If the thought of the trucker driving that 18-wheeler coming up behind you on the highway suddenly falling asleep frightens you – it should. A Texas woman just won a $3.25 million lawsuit against a trucking company because one of their drivers fell asleep at the wheel and rear ended a stopped car at 65 mph – the woman’s husband died in the accident. Evidently the driver had been terminated from a prior job because he refused to get tested for sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea in the trucking industry is not a secret but what is surprising is just how prevalent the problem is. A study done in Australia showed that 41% of the truck drivers in Australia have obstructive sleep apnea. Less than 5% of the drivers said they had previously been diagnosed with sleep apnea however. This study only looked at Australian truck drivers but the findings that 49% smoked, 50% were obese and 36% were overweight probably would match well with the American population of truck drivers. NPR had previously reported that up to 33% of truck drivers in the US had sleep apnea.

Sleepy transportation workers are a danger and the problem is not limited to the people who drive the big rigs. Train operators, pilots and others all have reported experiencing a “near miss” because of fatigue.

Has fatigue affected your work performance? If the answer is yes and you experience frequent daytime sleepiness you may suffer from a sleep breathing disorder that is robbing you of the rest you need. Please contact StoneRidge Dental Care in Columbus, OH today at 614-476-6696 to schedule your consultation.