Compulsory regular testing it should be then
Discussion
ALARMING OR WHAT!!!!
Safespeed some more armoury for you!
TV program this evening about the sleep disorder that primarily effects overweight people (read most truck drivers), that causes severe drowsiness in 1 of 6 lorry drivers, (as per volunteer sample tests). Should indicate to the government that compulsory medicals & regular testing of all professional drivers should be on the cards as quickly as they can say "Safety Camera"
Its a disorder that causes poor breathing in sleep, leading to very poor alertness at the wheel. 1 in 6 yes thats almost 100,000 truck drivers are suspected of having the condition. It's simple to fix & as demonstrated it makes a huge difference at the wheel.
However the NHS won't fund the treatment on a national scale due to costs but are happy to spend billions on road accident victims many of who'm are suspected of suffering from it or are on the receiving end of it effects.
In conversation with my wife who is Czech her father is a professional PSV driver & he is tested for this exact thing every 2 years as part of the medical for a compulsory regular driving test.
Looks like we have some catching up to do.
Safespeed some more armoury for you!
TV program this evening about the sleep disorder that primarily effects overweight people (read most truck drivers), that causes severe drowsiness in 1 of 6 lorry drivers, (as per volunteer sample tests). Should indicate to the government that compulsory medicals & regular testing of all professional drivers should be on the cards as quickly as they can say "Safety Camera"
Its a disorder that causes poor breathing in sleep, leading to very poor alertness at the wheel. 1 in 6 yes thats almost 100,000 truck drivers are suspected of having the condition. It's simple to fix & as demonstrated it makes a huge difference at the wheel.
However the NHS won't fund the treatment on a national scale due to costs but are happy to spend billions on road accident victims many of who'm are suspected of suffering from it or are on the receiving end of it effects.
In conversation with my wife who is Czech her father is a professional PSV driver & he is tested for this exact thing every 2 years as part of the medical for a compulsory regular driving test.
Looks like we have some catching up to do.
Are you talking about sleep apnea. You have to notify DVLA if you suffer from it. And why should it only be professional drivers tested regular for it, Shouldn't it be all drivers. I have seen car drivers dozing off at the wheel as well. Atb Derek
>> Edited by winnebago nut on Monday 21st November 22:19
>> Edited by winnebago nut on Monday 21st November 22:19
A very interesting but emotionally slanted report. They say that 4% of all people (i.e. drivers) suffer from this in GB. Going from 23 million of us drivers (read this somewhere) there are 920000 people who drive and suffer from this NOT JUST the 80000 Truckies they mentioned (again slanted stats used!)!!!
YES a 44-tonne unguided missile may well cause more damage than a 1-2tonne eurobox but there are a damn sight more euroboxes on the road........and how many people are involved in accidents with drivers asleep or not knowing what happened???
Funny though how a very widely-known problem (here on the continent) is only just reaching the gutter-press (BBC)in GB. I drive many thousands of miles/kms/leagues every year and got myself tested in 1989, and regularly since then as that is how well this problem is known! (i.e. even a numpty like me knows about it!)
A problem we all should be very aware of especially when we carry a bit too much around our middles (and thus throat areas)!!!!! and not only truckies but everyone who drives anywhere, anytime!
>> Edited by JMGS4 on Tuesday 22 November 07:26
YES a 44-tonne unguided missile may well cause more damage than a 1-2tonne eurobox but there are a damn sight more euroboxes on the road........and how many people are involved in accidents with drivers asleep or not knowing what happened???
Funny though how a very widely-known problem (here on the continent) is only just reaching the gutter-press (BBC)in GB. I drive many thousands of miles/kms/leagues every year and got myself tested in 1989, and regularly since then as that is how well this problem is known! (i.e. even a numpty like me knows about it!)
A problem we all should be very aware of especially when we carry a bit too much around our middles (and thus throat areas)!!!!! and not only truckies but everyone who drives anywhere, anytime!
>> Edited by JMGS4 on Tuesday 22 November 07:26
winnebago nut said:
Are you talking about sleep apnea. You have to notify DVLA if you suffer from it. And why should it only be professional drivers tested regular for it, Shouldn't it be all drivers. I have seen car drivers dozing off at the wheel as well. Atb Derek
>> Edited by winnebago nut on Monday 21st November 22:19
My poor old Dad (seventies) has sleep apnea. Nearly killed him prior to him getting treatment.
Doesn't drive anymore. If, when I get to his age, I find myself dozy in the day I'll know not to accept it as part of old age and will go get treatment immediately. The box costs a few hundred quid...and basically blows air down your hooter to keep you breathing...
I wasn't trying to put an alarmist personal view on it, its just fairly obvious as pointed by the specialist guy in the hospital that a vast percentage of professional drivers are overweight & many of them are suffereing from it. Ever seen a slimline burger van at the side of the road here in the UK!
So our most professional drivers, who have the most mileage exposure, are the single group most at risk and currently nothing is being done about it, let alone the average driver.
Plus voluntary disclosure to the DVLA
So our most professional drivers, who have the most mileage exposure, are the single group most at risk and currently nothing is being done about it, let alone the average driver.
Plus voluntary disclosure to the DVLA
Looks like the BBC got duped into issuing a 30 minute commercial.
See: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/real_story/445 contains: "The Respironics study, to be featured on BBC1's Real Story, looked at more than 900 drivers in England and Wales."
And what do Respironics do? They make breathing machines:
www.respironics.com/product_library/invoke.cfm?objectid=09B07252-B507-45D8-83FE7EAE98581D9F&method=display
And when you Google "obstructive sleep apnoea" (148,000 hits) you find that most research reckons that 1 to 4% of the population suffer from the condition.
So 1 in 6 is likely a distortion for gain, because the truth 1 in 100 wouldn't have got the BBC jumping.
See: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/real_story/445 contains: "The Respironics study, to be featured on BBC1's Real Story, looked at more than 900 drivers in England and Wales."
And what do Respironics do? They make breathing machines:
www.respironics.com/product_library/invoke.cfm?objectid=09B07252-B507-45D8-83FE7EAE98581D9F&method=display
And when you Google "obstructive sleep apnoea" (148,000 hits) you find that most research reckons that 1 to 4% of the population suffer from the condition.
So 1 in 6 is likely a distortion for gain, because the truth 1 in 100 wouldn't have got the BBC jumping.
I understand what your saying paul, but this is recognised & tested for on the continent as part of the medical to allow you to drive. Yes maybe it's only a limited number of people who suffer but when a large portion (no puns) of those sufferers are commercial drivers then surely a more pro-active response should be in order.
I don't know a single slim truck driver, I can count 5 I know personally & each one is at least 15 stone.
I don't know a single slim truck driver, I can count 5 I know personally & each one is at least 15 stone.
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