Today's Article on Drowsiness

[jeepdoctor]

http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/n ... 114&k=8076

Today's article contained this quote, "In Texas last spring, Miroslaw Jozwiak, a 46-year-old trucker, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of 10 people when he careened into other vehicles on Highway 75 near Sherman. He had slept less than three hours over a 36-hour long-distance road trip in dry, clear conditions.

"You don't have to have been up for 36 hours for something like this to happen," says Raynald Marchand, manager of the traffic safety and training division for the Canada Safety Council. "It could be that person didn't have a good night's sleep the night before or has accumulated a sleep debt, has a baby that's keeping (them) up or has sleep apnea." "

Mr. Marchand's comment concerning the driver possibly having sleep apnea is speculative and reckless. A person who sleeps three hours during a 36 hour road trip is in violation of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations and the Texas intrastate adoption of same. Conjecturing that such a person may have sleep apnea is poppycock and is an an example of the irresponsible manner in which some folks in run their mouths without having facts in hand. What a shame.

[krousseau]

Oh-I thought he was just saying you didn't have do what the truck driver had done-that essentially all you had to do was lose a night's sleep due to a new baby, have sleep apnea, or a sleep debt from any cause-and they could fall asleep at the wheel.. Not that he thought the truck driver could have sleep apnea

[ozij]

Oh-I thought he was just saying you didn't have do what the truck driver had done-that essentially all you had to do was lose a night's sleep due to a new baby, have sleep apnea, or a sleep debt from any cause-and they could fall asleep at the wheel.. Not that he thought the truck driver could have sleep apnea

Me too.



Epidemiology of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

in American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Vol 165. pp. 1217-1239, (2002)

Population-based epidemiologic studies have uncovered the high prevalence and wide severity spectrum of undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea, and have consistently found that even mild obstructive sleep apnea is associated with significant morbidity. Evidence from methodologically strong cohort studies indicates that undiagnosed obstructive sleep apnea, with or without symptoms, is independently associated with increased likelihood of hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke, daytime sleepiness, motor vehicle accidents, and diminished quality of life.

My empahsis.

Motor Vehicle Crashes and Occupational Accidents
Several studies have shown that patients with OSA syndrome have high motor vehicle crash rates, based on crash records as well as self-report and poor performance on driving simulators (170–175). Because traffic safety is under governmental regulation, there are legal implications for both private and commercial drivers if OSA is a significant cause of impaired driving. The need to understand the role of undiagnosed sleep apnea in motor vehicle crashes is further heightened because unlike other outcomes of sleep apnea, motor vehicle crashes put lives other than the driver's at risk. Consequently, this potential outcome of OSA is of unique importance to society in general

O.

[jeepdoctor]

Ozij and Krousseau,

You make a good point.

My thought is that the driver used as the example was clearly in violation of Federal and State driver regulations and common sense. Extending this driver's accident into a discussion of other causes of driver drousiness, i.e., sleep apnea, does a disservice to folks who have sleeping disorders and who are undergoing treatment.

Mr. Marchand should have restricted his discussion of this accident to the facts of the case, which are probably available on the NTSB web site.

[Offerocker]

Epidemiology of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

in American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine Vol 165. pp. 1217-1239, (2002)

Motor Vehicle Crashes and Occupational Accidents
Several studies have shown that patients with OSA syndrome have high motor vehicle crash rates, based on crash records as well as self-report and poor performance on driving simulators (170–175). Because traffic safety is under governmental regulation, there are legal implications for both private and commercial drivers if OSA is a significant cause of impaired driving. The need to understand the role of undiagnosed sleep apnea in motor vehicle crashes is further heightened because unlike other outcomes of sleep apnea, motor vehicle crashes put lives other than the driver's at risk. Consequently, this potential outcome of OSA is of unique importance to society in general

-(My emphasis - Offerocker)

This statement also causes me to wonder: IF this is picked up by anyone (or a group) that is interested in taking action, "What on earth would they suggest doing? And how many decades would it take to approve this study?" Would they have sleep studies performed as part of the Driver's Testing? Undiagnosed is almost as bad as mis-diagnosis.

I MUST also add that only lately has the medical community been more active in diagnosing this condition and having the person TESTED!

I wonder if they (politics/Civil Rights will surely enter into this!) will first argue the death rates of "undiagnosed sleep apnea" vs handguns". I do not intend to either compare the two or step on anyone's opinionated toes, but to point out: How the heck would they implement this study, in order to take the action they seem to want. (fewer accident due to diagnosed/treated/compliant-proven people with sleep apnea). Also, will overweight persons be "more suspect"? (that is a false assumption)

I heartily agree that this (truck) driver violated MANY rules: Transportation Commission, hopefully company regulations, and most importantly, one of conscience.
Getting to conscience, I've felt and hoped (too much to ask?) that most people who sense they are sleepy behind the wheel have sense enough to pull off the road. I know it's not as easy to do 'today' as it was many years ago. But ANYplace is better than between those painted lines. I pulled over many times in my youth - it is a very scary experience. I do not experience that too often now, but then on longer trips, I am eating constantly, drinking coffee, etc. I know that's 'supposed' to be dangerous, but so is boredom.

I'm sorry to have taken up so much room, but "one thing leads to another"...and that's just the point that I think was initially intended...one off-handed remark by someone wil soon be broadcasted to the world!l

My APOLOGIES!
After having read the initial post for the 3rd time (takes me that many), I realized that I was responding to a medical journal article, NOT the newspaper one.

I obviously agree with others who take issue with off-handed remarks that do such harm.
People with heart conditions, advanced Parkinsons, Poor eyesight, etc., not to mention someone in a bad mood, are dangerous as well, to others as well as themselves. I must also add that persons whose weight distribution gets in the way of their ability to exercise quick response must also keep that in mind. Face it, this nation has too many people that are too quick to judge.

[krousseau]

I have two friends who frequently drive while drowsy. I've brought it up but the subject has been dismissed. One probably has SDB-the other is a maybe. So it is a big problem and I can see a safety manage taking every opportunity to get a point across.

[krousseau]

The person quoted was Raynald Marchand, manager of the traffic safety and training division for the Canada Safety Council. Canada has a large scale road safety campaign going on that includes many factors; road design, car design, all medical conditions that could affect driving safety-it is very inclusive. Since it was an article on the drowsy driving aspect of road safety from a Canadian newpaper he was probably interviewed for the story. IM0-In that context his remarks seem appropriate. The info may have also been edited to that particular sequence of wording by the writer & editor. That is a media problem. If he were directly involved in the accident investigation I'd say he would have to be more careful about the juxtaposition of his remarks.