Drivers with untreated sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, are one of the most dangerous threats on our roads.

Driver fatigue is responsible for an estimated 100,000 motor vehicle accidents and 1,500 deaths each year and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates the cost of drowsy driving is $12.4 billion per year. The Situational Performance of an untreated driver is similar to that of a person with a .06 – .08 Blood Alcohol Content level.

Driver fatigue and sleepiness has become an epidemic. The problem is even worse in the transportation industry. It is estimated that close to 1 out of every 3 OTR drivers have Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Studies have confirmed that obesity among commercial truck drivers is a major cause of sleep apnea and that offering accessible testing to drivers may reduce the risk of truck crashes.
fatigued driver

Drivers with untreated sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, are one of the most dangerous threats on our roads.

Driver fatigue is responsible for an estimated 100,000 motor vehicle accidents and 1,500 deaths each year and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates the cost of drowsy driving is $12.4 billion per year. The Situational Performance of an untreated driver is similar to that of a person with a .06 – .08 Blood Alcohol Content level.

Driver fatigue and sleepiness has become an epidemic. The problem is even worse in the transportation industry. It is estimated that close to 1 out of every 3 OTR drivers have Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Studies have confirmed that obesity among commercial truck drivers is a major cause of sleep apnea and that offering accessible testing to drivers may reduce the risk of truck crashes.
fatigued driver

Fatigue + the Transportation Industry

Top 13 Citations + References

Top Ten (or 13) List

Sleep Apnea in Transportation: Risk Mitigation and Savings Study Results

  • 53% reduction in accidents, 55% reduction in hard braking events, 56% reduction in medical expenses. J.B Hunt/SleepSafe Drivers (Durmer. APSS Poster Sessions; 2014)
  • Lower health plan costs, fewer missed workdays, lower rate of short-term disability. Waste Management (Hoffman, et al. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine; 2010)
  • Lower health plan costs; also reduced hospital admits & inpatient days cost;
    $4.9 million net savings for program.     Union Pacific Rail (Potts, et al. Popular Health Management; 2013)
  • Lower medical costs; 73% accident reduction, 2.3 fold reduction in turnover. Schneider (Berger, et al. CHEST; 2006)
  • CPAP treatment reduced the 10-year risk of both fatal and non-fatal motor vehicle crashes by 52%. (Pietzsch, Linehan. SLEEP; 2011)
  • Driver fatigue is a contributing factor in 30-40% of heavy truck crashes. (Knipling R, Wang J. National Health Traffic Safety Administration; 1994)
  • Truckers with untreated sleep apnea are 2-7 times more likely to crash. (Drobrich. Sleep Review; 2007)
  • Patients with OSA had substantially higher rates of motor vehicle crashes, at 3 to 4.8 times the risk. Head on collisions were rare, but 80% occurred in patients with OSA. (Mulgrew, et al. Thorax; 2008)
  • FMCSA estimates that 7.2M is the cost per crash fatality. 30% of the reported 3,961 fatalities in 2012 would equate to an overall cost of $8.6 Billion. (MCS Progress Report; 2013)
  • For each $1 spent on CPAP treatment, $3.49 will be saved in reduced collision costs. (Sassani, et al. SLEEP; 2004)
  • Sleep apnea prevalence in CDL holders is 28% vs. the 7% in general population, primarily due to 2x rate of obesity. (Pack. U Penn; 2006)
  • Drivers with untreated sleep apnea are as risky as drunk drivers at .08 Blood Alcohol Content. (CDC; 2013)
  • CMV drivers with severe OSA were 4.6 times more likely to be involved in a severe crash during a 7-year period than were CMV drivers without OSA. Approximately one in four CMV drivers possess mild or higher levels of OSA. (Pack, et al. US Dept of Transportation, FMCSA)