Did you know that there are more than 3,700 deaths a year from large truck accidents? According to the Large Truck Crash Causation Study (LTCCS), in 13% of all trucking accidents, the drivers were experiencing some level of fatigue. Although fatigue may not have been the direct cause of the accidents, it is an avoidable factor. By understanding the causes, signs and potential results of fatigue, truck drivers are better equipped to prevent it. Driver education partnered with a pro-active attitude from trucking companies can greatly reduce accidents, making the highways safer for everyone.
Causes of Fatigue in Truck Drivers
Lack of sleep and driving long stretches are the most obvious causes of fatigue. Getting enough sleep within a 24 hour period is important, but fatigue is often caused by low-quality sleep. For example, if a driver sleeps for 2 hours at one point and then sleeps another 4 hours later on, this is not the equivalent of sleeping 6 hours straight.
The time of day can also play a role, as the human body naturally feels tired in the early morning hours and late afternoon. Because truck drivers often work a different schedule, their bodies may adapt to their rhythms and learn to become tired at the appropriate times. However, a change in that schedule, like rotating shifts or returning from down time, requires time for the body to reset. This is why accidents often occur on the first day of a driver returning to work or driving a different shift.
Large truck accidents are more common on long boring stretches of low-traffic roads. This is because the drivers mind isn’t being challenged. An unstimulated mind or body greatly increases the possibility of weariness.
Recognizing Fatigue in Truck Drivers
It’s easy for a truck driver to not realize that fatigue is an issue. The more tired a person becomes, the harder it is to accurately self-asses. Yawning and drooping eyes are often the last warning signs. Drivers should take warning when they notice their attention is wandering and they are experiencing trouble focusing. Even after a long stretch of sleep, a driver can wake up and feel drowsy, which is signal of fatigue.
Understanding the Impact of Fatigue on Truck Drivers
Falling asleep at the wheel is obviously dangerous. But fatigue can also cause problems with judgment and reaction times. As the attention span reduces, there is more likelihood of driver error. Drivers may even experience short-term memory loss. These create dangerous driving conditions that risk not only the safety of the driver and truck, but harm to other drivers. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 30,000 injuries were caused by driver fatigue in 2009.
How Trucking Companies Can Help Promote Highway Safety
Trucking companies can prevent driver fatigue from becoming a safety hazard by developing and implementing a fatigue management program. Having policies in place and requiring compliance with Hours of Service Laws are important for everyone’s safety. It’s also useful for a company to provide fatigue education to increase driver awareness.
