It can be difficult for those outside of the trucking industry to understand the hard labor involved in daily shifts. For countless Tennessee truck drivers, a regular day can mean long, grueling hours on the road — complete with pressing schedules. Although a position in truck driving can bring many benefits to the table, are truck drivers becoming too drowsy to drive?
Millions of Americans climb behind the wheel without sufficient rest. CMV Driving Safety, a resource for safer and more productive trucking, dedicated an article to truck driver drowsiness and the ways it can make a major impact on the average employee. According to CMV, one in four commercial motor vehicle drivers in the country suffers from sleep apnea. Moreover, truck driver drowsiness and fatigue has to led to a crippling number of accidents every year. While some might assume the solution is to simply get more rest, CMV points out that the situation can become more complex than a night of lost sleep; driver drowsiness can stem from the choices a driver makes throughout the day, among other circumstances. CMV goes on to offer additional information and educational platforms regarding truck driver fatigue in the nation.
The answer to a drowsy driving problem may differ depending on the individual, but car enthusiast magazine Roadshow showcased one automaker’s innovative take on this widespread problem. According to Roadshow, Ford has invented a special cap to detect drowsy driving; this “Safe Cap” contains a detection system that can alert truckers when rest may be in order. The hat emits different signals when it detects a driver falling asleep, ideally resulting in a necessary break. Even though the invention may see years before it reaches potential production, this technology reflects a growing concern regarding drowsy driving in the trucking industry.