The struggle for parking spaces

Truck drivers are confronted daily with insufficient truck parking spaces. There is currently only one parking space for every 11 trucks on the road. This places pressure on truck drivers to find a secure spot to rest within the limits of their legal work hours, pushing them to make risky decisions to meet their work obligations. As a result, many drivers resort to parking on freeway off-ramps, side streets, and retail parking lots.

Legislative efforts

Both Democrat and Republican lawmakers in Congress have joined forces to address this issue. They are backing bills that would allocate $755 million to build additional truck parking spots nationwide. Truckers are relying on this legislation to provide them with safe places to rest during their mandatory breaks.

Fatigue and drowsy driving

Truck drivers operate under federally mandated “Hours of Service” regulations that aim to prevent fatigue-related accidents. However, recent changes to these regulations have raised concerns about the impact on road safety. Longer on-duty times may lead to fatigue, which impairs a driver’s performance behind the wheel. Fatigue can compromise a driver’s ability to maintain necessary skills like eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity, leading to an increased risk of accidents.

Recent research suggests truck drivers sleep, on average, about 6.2 hours per day before driving, which is less than the recommended 7 or more hours the AASM recommends. Additionally, drivers traveling between time zones may face an additional burden of fatigue. For truckers, the effect of shifting time zones is amplified given their non-traditional work schedule, raising the risk of drowsy driving accidents.

Scheduling variations pose a safety risk as well. Truckers may experience shift work disorder, which occurs when you have difficulties adjusting to your wake and sleep times due to your work schedule. Shift work disorder causes you to have trouble sleeping or be severely tired.

Watch this video for truckers to understand the signs, causes, and consequences of driver fatigue.

The role of sleep apnea

While long work hours can contribute to fatigue, sleep apnea may also play a role. Sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep, leading to poor quality sleep and daytime drowsiness. Sleep apnea can impair drivers’ ability to stay alert and attentive behind the wheel. Estimates into the prevalence of sleep apnea among truck drivers vary; most likely, around 40% of truckers have the sleep disorder.

Despite its potential impact on road safety, there is no federal requirement for sleep apnea testing for commercial motor vehicle drivers. Some drivers fear that undergoing a sleep study and getting diagnosed with sleep apnea could jeopardize their jobs. However, it’s essential to recognize that sleep apnea is treatable. Your medical provider or a sleep doctor can help you select a treatment plan that is right for you.

Conclusion

The shortage of truck parking spaces has become a major roadblock for truck drivers. The constant search for a safe resting place leaves many drivers sleep-deprived and prone to drowsy driving accidents. Providing rest and parking for truck drivers is more than just a convenience, it’s a step toward ensuring safety on the road.

Medical review by John Saito, MD

Related:

• Study shows high rate of truckers with undiagnosed sleep apnea
• Sleep apnea, shift work a danger on the roads and rails

Authored by: Kate Robards

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You should tell the Food and Drug Administration about your experience. An FDA program called MedWatch helps identify important safety concerns to protect you from unexpected problems that could be dangerous.

How does MedWatch work?

The FDA regulates a wide range of products — everything from drugs and medical devices to cosmetics and infant formula. MedWatch allows patients, consumers, and health care providers to report serious problems with the medical products they use or prescribe.

Reporting problems with drugs or medical devices can help the FDA detect safety hazards. If a safety hazard is found, the FDA can issue a safety alert or recall.

The FDA gets important information when you submit a report to MedWatch about unexpected side effects, adverse events, or other problems. Learn more about the type of reports the FDA needs from you.

This video describes what you should know about submitting a MedWatch report.

You’re encouraged to report adverse events, side effects, or other problems related to FDA-regulated products to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Related:

• Patient organizations team up to help people with sleep disorders
• Philips PAP device recall: Guidance for patients

Authored by:

Kate Robards

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Where can I find information about the recall?

The recall notification is posted at philips.com/src-update. Also, the FDA has posted responses to several questions about the recall. Read FAQs from the FDA.

How do I find out if my PAP machine has been recalled?

You can start by viewing a list of recalled devices on the Philips website. To confirm that your device has been recalled, you need to visit the Philips registration site to register your device. The website will give you instructions on how to locate the serial number of your device. It also will guide you through the registration process. You can contact Philips at SRC.Support@philips.com or (877) 907-7508 for additional help.

View a video on how to register your device:

Will Philips replace my PAP device?

Philips has stated that it will repair or replace recalled devices. Philips is replacing some devices with new DreamStation 2 machines. These devices have a different, silicone-based foam that is not included in the recall. Philips also plans to repair some recalled devices by changing the foam. Philips stated in September 2021 that the company intends to complete the repair and replacement programs within approximately 12 months.

If my device has been recalled, should I stop using it?

An FDA safety communication advises you to talk to your health care provider to decide on a suitable treatment for your condition. Your medical provider can help you determine if you should continue or discontinue treatment. Your provider may prescribe a new PAP device for you. Your provider also may discuss other treatment options with you.

Why were the devices recalled?

Philips indicates that there were reports of black particles being found in the tubing, mask, and around the connections to the device. These particles are from foam inside the machine that is used to keep it quieter. The concern is that these particles may be inhaled when the device is being used. This could result in problems such as headaches, asthma, and nausea. Testing by Philips  also has found that there are VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that are being released into the airflow from the CPAP device foam. These are not yet known to have caused medical issues, but the FDA is concerned about what this may cause in the future. Since this is a new concern, Philips is collecting data to better understand the potential risk of this foam.

The FDA notes that between 2014 and April 2021, Philips submitted 30 medical device reports (eight from the U.S.) they identified as related to foam breakdown.  Prior to April 2021, the FDA did not receive any medical device reports of patient injury or harm related to foam breakdown. Since April 2021, the FDA has received more than 3,000 medical device reports related to foam breakdown.

What does this have to do with ozone cleaners? How should I clean my PAP device?

Philips reports that the foam used to keep the devices quieter breaks down quicker when exposed to high heat, high humidity, and non-approved cleaning devices that use ozone. The FDA recommends that you follow the cleaning instructions provided by the PAP manufacturer. These directions normally include regular cleaning of your mask, cushions, tubing and water chamber with soap and water. PAP manufacturers also recommend changing your PAP filter on a regular basis. An FDA safety communication warned that you should avoid cleaning your PAP machine or accessories (such as masks, tubing, headgear) with any device that uses ozone gas or UV light. According to the FDA, it is unknown if these cleaners are safe and effective. See the FDA consumer update for more details. Additionally, Philips released cleaning and inspection instructions for existing accessories.

Updated Nov. 19, 2021

Related:

• Philips PAP device recall: Guidance for patients

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Drowsy driving happens when a driver of a motor vehicle is too sleepy to stay alert. A sleepy driver will have slower reaction time, reduced road attention, and impaired ability to make good driving decisions. Research shows that driving after being awake for 24 hours is comparable to driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.10, above 0.08 which is the legal limit of intoxication.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety estimates that more than 6,000 fatal crashes are related to drowsy driving every year. Although not all of these drowsy drivers are teens, the National Safety Council estimates that drivers under the age of 25 are involved in at least 50 percent of drowsy driving crashes.

Teens and young adults have a higher risk of drowsy driving because they are newer drivers who are often chronically sleep deprived. The combination of sleepy teens driving with limited skills and little experience poses a danger to drivers and pedestrians.

As a high school student, I am familiar with sleep deprivation and the constant need to balance schoolwork, extracurriculars, and social activities. As a new driver, I am aware of the risks of drunk driving, but drowsy driving was never on my radar. On school days I leave the house at 7:20 a.m. (often sleep deprived) and drive a short distance to school. A rarely discussed topic, driving while sleepy has almost as high of a risk as driving while drunk.

Drunk drivers experience reduced and slower brain function. Alcohol consumption negatively impacts the central nervous system resulting in impaired thinking and reasoning, reduced muscle coordination, and slower reaction, all are critical abilities of safe vehicle operation. As the amount of alcohol consumption increases, the risk of crashes becomes higher. Sleep deprivation has similar effects on the brain. Teens are taught to avoid driving after drinking; why not teach them to avoid driving while sleepy?

Successful campaign tactics to prevent drunk driving could be applied to reduce drowsy driving. Another way to tackle drowsy driving in teens would be to provide them longer sleep duration by delaying school start times. I believe that both strategies could reduce incidents of drowsy driving. Other strategies include developing technology to alert drivers with slower reaction times or reduced road attention. To prevent more victims, efforts to raise awareness of drowsy driving should start now.

Talia M. Dunietz is an 11th-grade student at Huron High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

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As her mother walked her to the car, the dialogue between them would be etched in our memories forever. Brianna’s mother told her to be careful, to which her reply was, “Don’t you trust me?” Her mother assured Brianna that it wasn’t her that she didn’t trust, but other drivers on the road. Brianna’s response was, “You have to let me go, mom,” to which her mother replied, “I’ll just hold on to you tighter.”

Those were the last words we would hear from our daughter.

She was not scheduled to work that day, but being the Christmas season, she was picking up extra hours from co-workers taking off for the holidays. This was a second job she picked up, since she was employed at the airport in Oroville, California, working on a mechanics apprenticeship.

A young, heavy-set, 21-year old man was driving faster than the speed limit. The roads were wet from the rain earlier that morning. My wife and I later found out, according to the driver’s wife, that the man had been sick.

They had a new baby and he was not getting enough sleep.

He went to work that morning to make a delivery since he worked at a transmission shop. He had texted his wife telling her he felt sick, and she replied telling him to come home. In need of the work, he proceeded to make the delivery anyway.

For a time, the man managed to stay on the highway, swerving in and out of the adjacent lane for four miles – drowsing off repeatedly – until he lost control of his pickup truck on a corner of the highway. As the vehicle crossed the center median and up the embankment, his truck went airborne. At that exact moment, our daughter Brianna was coming around the corner.

He collided head-on with her vehicle.

The Highway Patrol report indicated Brianna had no time to react, and was probably not even aware of what hit her. Had there been a one-second delay in the timing, he would have missed her and she’d be alive today. Had there been rails on that section of highway around that dangerous corner, it would have kept him on his side of the highway and she would still be alive.

When my wife got the call from the hospital, she called me in tears. We were devastated! Our world fell out from under our feet that day.

How could this happen? She was our only daughter, our only child.

Our daughter, Brianna, was a unique child, as all children are in their own right. However, though some children enter the world with greater advantages than others, to a large degree, it is up to each individual what they make of themselves in life.

Through most of Brianna’s developing years she was raised in a rural environment, experiencing the great outdoors.  As an only child, she would spend time roaming with her dog around our 15-acre property in the foothills of Yosemite, California. Her love of country life outweighed city living.

Brianna’s upbringing, as a homeschooler taught by her mother, provided her a tremendous advantage in the academic years. Coupled with fresh air, plenty of sunshine and exercise in a natural environment, this paid off during those elementary and high school years.

Brianna’s love for flying began by reading about missionary pilots of the last century. Seeds were planted that would sprout and bear fruit within a few years. She would see her dreams becoming a reality, even before adulthood. At her memorial service, it had been stated that she lived a whole life in those brief 19 years.

In the last year of Brianna’s life, we saw a maturing – mentally and even spiritually. Mature people take responsibility for their actions. She learned that this in itself pays dividends:  respect, trust, and dependability, to name a few.

As a pilot preparing for mission service, she was just two weeks away from her commercial pilot’s license. Brianna had been on two humanitarian mission trips to Panama and Ecuador, where she saw severe poverty first-hand. She also had been to Japan, where she escorted a mother and her son as their photographer. Brianna was an avid and active scuba diver at the master level, a photographer, videographer, and a violinist; these were among her biggest achievements. Although she had much drive, she was also down to earth, teachable, non-judgmental of others, eager to be helpful where she could, and a friend to all.

The weeks and months that followed our daughter’s death were incredibly difficult.

Words cannot express the anguish, grief, pain, frustration, even anger experienced by a parent in losing a child. These emotions were compounded by sleeplessness, an inability to concentrate, and overall helplessness.  It has been said that losing a child is probably the most horrific loss a human being can endure. One thing is for certain: Parents come to grips with the dark realities of life in such times.

Only one’s faith can carry you through such an experience. But through it all, we have grown deeper in an understanding and appreciation of our heavenly Father, and we believe He fastened us in His loving arms. He truly holds the breath of every soul in His hands.

Giving a fair account of what has transpired in the 33 months since our loss would require us to write a book. For the purpose of this article, let it be said that we realized, through the influence of close friends and associates, that we needed to tell our story. A website was set up, and eventually a foundation was established:  Brianna’s Wings of Passion. We hope that it will further Brianna’s legacy and be the means of bringing hope to hurting hearts that have also experienced loss and tragedy.

The man who took our daughter’s life faced no legal consequences.

He was not under the influence of alcohol, or drugs; he just fell asleep. Since there is not enough information or preventive laws on the books regarding drowsy driving, no prosecutorial action could be taken.

In response, my wife and I are pursuing prevention and legislative efforts to reduce traffic collisions, especially those that result in a loss of life, as national interest continues to grow. In particular, this year has opened doors for us to meet with county officials and senators at the state and federal levels to consider pursing legislation.

Along with the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, we look to assist with drowsy driving awareness and prevention.  Here are a few ways in which we are currently involved:

• Helping to put up rails on the stretch of highway where our daughter was killed;
• Urging Cal-Trans (California Department of Transportation) to put up signage across the state to bring drowsy driving awareness to the public;
• Asking the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to add the effects of drowsy driving into their manuals, to include new drowsy driving verbiage in the DMV’s examination for renewal or licensure, and to include medical conditions in the application process that would alert highway patrol officers of potential drowsiness-inducing conditions at a traffic collision or when pulling over a driver; and
• Working with California Highway Patrol (CHP) to bring awareness to schools on the dangers of drowsy driving. The CHP will be doing a state-wide awareness campaign including a short interview on our family’s experience.

The drowsy driving issue certainly has become an epidemic in this nation.

We are pleased to see many groups – both private and public – collaborating on solutions. Our hope is that these efforts will curb the number of crashes and reduce the annual number of crash fatalities, both of which are on the rise.

For more information about Brianna Cassidy’s story, please visit the Brianna’s Wings of Passion Foundation website.

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What caused the truck driver to rack a 6 car pile-up? The National Transportation Safety Board is citing sleep deprivation.

The Walmart truck driver had not slept for 28 hours. The crash could have been avoided if he had slowed down to the work zone speed limit of 45 miles per hour. Kevin Roper, the truck driver, had driven over 800 miles the night before the fatal crash, which injured 21 people total.

Sadly, incidents like this are too common. Drowsy driving causes 6 percent of all crashes and 21 percent of all fatal crashes. Shift workers like Roper are at an especially higher risk of drowsy driving. This is because of the odd hours truck drivers are expected to work.

There is one good statistic related to drowsy driving — it is almost always preventable. If your eyes start to feel heavy, or you can’t seem to stop yawning, pulling over to a safe location for a power nap can make a huge difference in your alertness. Refusing to drive when drowsy can save thousands of lives a year. To learn more about how to keep our roads safe, take a look at the Healthy Sleep Project and commit to staying awake at the wheel.

Updated Dec. 21, 2015

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On Dec. 1, 2013, a Metro-North train was traveling from Poughkeepsie to New York City. A locomotive was pushing seven train cars with about 115 passengers.

The train entered a curve where the speed limit was 30 miles per hour. But the train continued traveling at a speed of 82 mph. As a result the locomotive and all seven cars went off the rails. Four people were killed, and 61 others were injured. The accident also caused more than $9 million in damage.

The NTSB reports that more than 800 people died in railroad accidents in 2010. This represents only two percent of all annual U.S. transportation fatalities. About 94 percent of transportation deaths occur on U.S. roads. The Federal Railroad Administration reports that 96 percent of railroad deaths involve trespassing or track-crossing incidents.

The NTSB report concluded that the Metro-North train engineer had fallen asleep. His sleepiness was blamed on undiagnosed, severe obstructive sleep apnea. His sleep also may have been disrupted by a recent change in his work shift.

Sleep problems are a widespread danger in the transportation industry. To promote railroad safety the FRA recently sponsored the development of the Railroaders’ Guide to Healthy Sleep.

In March the NTSB medical report indicated that the Metro-North engineer did not recall events leading up to the accident. He was sent to a board certified sleep medicine physician for an evaluation.

The engineer was obese with a history of snoring. He also reported feeling excessive daytime sleepiness. Yet he had never been screened for sleep apnea by any of his medical providers.

A sleep study found that the engineer had severe sleep apnea. He had an average of more than 50 partial or complete breathing pauses for every hour of sleep. These breathing pauses reduced his oxygen levels. They also prevented him from sleeping well.

The doctor prescribed CPAP therapy for the engineer. After one month of treatment he was using CPAP for about seven hours per night. He reported feeling more energetic. Treatment also eliminated his daytime sleepiness.

The National Healthy Sleep Awareness Project reports that snoring is a warning sign for obstructive sleep apnea. Obesity also is a common risk factor for OSA.

Is sleep apnea putting your health and safety at risk? Pledge to “Stop the Snore” and talk to a doctor about sleep apnea. Treating sleep apnea will put your health back on track.

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The NTSB final report concludes that a sleepy pilot was flying the business plane. The resulting crash killed all five passengers. The NTSB concluded that “his fatigue due to acute sleep loss” contributed to the tragedy. Another factor was “his ineffective use of time between flights to obtain sleep.”

“Just as pilots should not take off without enough fuel, they should not operate an aircraft without enough rest,” Christopher Hart said in a press release. He is the NTSB Acting Chairman.

The business flight was carrying five people who operated several vein care centers. They were returning home from Nashville to Thomson, Georgia.

The pilot lowered the landing gear on approach to the county airport. Then a system failure message came on. The pilot ignored the warning and began to land the plane. Suddenly he attempted to abort the landing by lifting off near the end of the runway. But the aircraft’s left wing struck a utility pole about 63 feet above the ground. The wing was completely severed. The plane crashed nearby in a wooded area.

The pilot and co-pilot survived. But all five passengers died from multiple traumatic injuries. Their seats had been “forcibly detached from the airplane.”

The investigation revealed that the pilot had slept only five hours the night before the crash. He also had woken up early at 2 a.m. on the day of the flight. The crash occurred about 18 hours later around 8 p.m.

The report concluded “the pilot was likely suffering from fatigue at the time of the accident.” It also noted that fatigue causes attention, memory and performance problems.

The probable cause of the crash was the pilot’s performance errors. He neglected to follow proper procedures after the system failure.

“This pilot’s inadequate knowledge of his aircraft was compounded by his fatigue,” said Hart. “As a result, five people died who did not have to.”

The NTSB reports that 472 people died in aviation accidents in 2010. This represents only one percent of all annual U.S. transportation fatalities. About 94 percent of transportation deaths occur on U.S. roads.

The National Healthy Sleep Awareness Project reports that healthy sleep is critical for both public health and transportation safety. Most adults need seven to nine hours of nightly sleep for optimal alertness.

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In the aftermath of the derailment, the engineer visited a board-certified sleep physician, who diagnosed him with severe sleep apnea. When the disorder is untreated, it can cause fatigue, slow reaction times, reduced alertness, and impaired thinking.

At 5-foot-10 and 261 lbs (severely obese), the conductor’s sleep disorder should have been detected long before he went to work that morning. If the disorder had been diagnosed and treated sooner, it’s possible that the deadly accident could have been prevented.

More than 100,000 accidents every year involve a drowsy or impaired driver. A vast majority of these accidents occur every day on our roadways and don’t receive as much attention as the New York train derailment. However, many are just as deadly and just as preventable.

Sleep disorders, medication side effects, and even a night of poor sleep can increase the risk of a drowsy driving accident.

Shift work disorder, or when your body has difficulty adjusting to non-traditional work schedules, is another common cause of drowsy driving among commercial vehicle operators. Truckers, pilots, and train operators are often required to switch between working late nights, overnights, and early mornings. This type of scheduling, which happens all too often, is a safety risk.

It should come as no surprise that the shift work disorder also factored into the commuter train derailment. The conductor had switched his schedule to an early morning shift shortly before the crash, according to an NTSB report.

If you have trouble keeping your eyes open when you’re driving or have difficulty remembering the last few minutes of your trip, you may be putting yourself and anyone else on the road at risk. Short-term drowsy driving prevention tactics may help you get to your destination safely.

If drowsy driving is a regular occurrence, an underlying sleep disorder may be causing your fatigue. Talk to your physician about your sleep or schedule an appointment with a board-certified sleep specialist to find out if you have a sleep disorder.

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