Why We Care About Truck Driver Fatigue

December 8, 2014
DOT by
Anthony Foxx

[…] Nearly 4,000 people die in large truck crashes each year and driver fatigue is a leading factor. Tragically, the truck drivers themselves sometimes die driving tired. […]
new research available on the subject demonstrated that long work hours, without sufficient recovery time, lead to reduced sleep and chronic fatigue. That fatigue leads drivers to have slower reaction times and a reduced ability to assess situations quickly. One of the most dangerous elements of fatigue is how quickly it can sneak up on vehicle operators, be they car drivers or truck drivers. The research revealed that truck drivers (like most people) often can’t assess their own fatigue levels accurately and are therefore unaware that their performance has degraded. Too often, fatigued drivers fail to notice that they are drifting between lanes.

FMCSA fulfilled its responsibility to develop a rule based on the best science available, protect the driving public, and ensure the continued flow of commerce. In fact, the rule was challenged in court by those who felt it was too restrictive and others who felt it wasn’t restrictive enough. The court found that FMCSA got it right. The rule still allows FMCSA to grant waivers to companies or industries for compelling reasons on a case-by-case basis.

Now, there are efforts in Congress to suspend the update to the restart provision through a rider that could be included in the final Appropriations bill for the year. I have voiced my strong objection to that rider. This rider will have the effect of once again allowing a segment of the trucking industry to operate an average of as many as 82 hours per week. The best science tells us that’s unsafe and will put lives at risk. Our responsibility to the traveling public requires us to warn Congress of these risks and urge reconsideration.