As the National Sleep Foundation has announced its annual Drowsy Driving Prevention Week for Nov.1 to 8, 2020, drivers across Nevada may want to take a second look at the impact that drowsiness can have on their behavior behind the wheel. In its effect, drowsiness is similar to alcohol intoxication as it impairs drivers’ attention, ability to assess risks and reaction times. Being awake for over 20 consecutive hours is like having a BAC of .08.

Drowsy drivers are three times as likely to crash as other drivers are. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that some 100,000 police-reported crashes every year in the U.S. involve drowsy driving. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety says the number is more like 328,000. Not all drowsy driving crashes are reported as such, after all. AAA goes on to state that 109,000 of those crashes end in injury and 6,400 in death.

Drivers should recognize when they are drowsy. Symptoms of drowsiness include constant yawning, trouble keeping one’s eyes open, lane drifting and difficulty remembering the last few exits. The only real solution to drowsiness is adequate sleep: at least seven hours each night. Various interventions exist to reduce drowsy driving, though, including crash avoidance technologies and education programs aimed at employees and university students.

When car crashes are caused by someone who was clearly drowsy, then victims who were not at fault may confidently pursue a personal injury claim. It may be wise, though, for them to see a lawyer beforehand because the case can quickly get complicated. With a lawyer, victims may have access to third parties like crash investigators who can help build up the case. The lawyer may take on all negotiations for a settlement, litigating if the other side refuses to pay out.

Nevada and all other states with the exception of Hawaii allow individuals as young as 18 to obtain a CDL for intrastate travel, opening the possibility for interstate travel when they turn 21. Now, a bipartisan bill introduced in February 2019 is proposing that even truckers under 21 be allowed to travel interstate.

In February 2020, the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Transportation and Safety held a hearing to explore the concerns arising from the bill. Though the bill would set up a probationary period where CDL holders under 21 complete 400 hours of driving, at least 240 of them with another driver 21 or older, this may not be enough to ensure safety.

One panelist, the president of the Truck Safety Coalition, stated that crash rates are higher among those truckers aged 18 to 20 and that sending them out of state to travel unfamiliar routes will only worsen matters. Another panelist, the executive vice president for the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, said that the bill is founded on the myth that there is a shortage of truckers.

Many are pushing for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to more carefully maintain and update its regulations. Others advocate more funding for well-designed infrastructure as the way to improving safety policies for the trucking industry.

When truck crashes occur, though, the only thing that begins to matter is determining fault. Trucking companies may do all they can to uphold federal regulations, but truckers themselves, whatever their age, can choose to act negligently behind the wheel. Those who are seriously injured in a truck crash can be eligible for compensation, but since determining fault and negotiating for a settlement are difficult matters, they may want to hire a lawyer. The lawyer might litigate if a settlement is not reached.

Nevada residents may be aware that new vehicles come with a crash test safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This 5-star rating system was developed in the 1990s from an earlier program, and vehicles are rated after a series of laboratory crash tests with dummies. While the system has had a positive impact on the automotive industry, it may need updating in light of recent advances in vehicle technology.

This is the conclusion of a report published in October 2019 by a former leader in NHTSA’s development of a crash testing program. The author says in particular that NHTSA’s crash testing needs to cover vehicle safety features like pedestrian detection. The agency, for its part, has promised that it would add test procedures, rate safety features and even create new crash dummies. But the changes are still forthcoming.

The report says that crash testing in the U.S. is simply not sufficient when compared to the steps being taken in Europe, Asia and Latin America. Europe, for example, tests its vehicles four times more before rating their safety. Of course, crash test results, no matter how comprehensive, are only one of many factors in buying a vehicle. Drivers need to hear about on-the-road experiences with a given vehicle, which is why the Fatality Analysis Reporting System is so important.

Victims of car collisions may not suffer as severely thanks to their vehicle, but still, they may be left with injuries that call for compensation from the other side. Filing a third-party insurance claim can be difficult on one’s own, so victims may want to see a lawyer before moving forward. A lawyer may determine how much one might receive and then negotiate for that amount. If an out-of-court settlement cannot be achieved, victims may litigate.

Long-haul truck drivers in Nevada should be aware that 35% of truckers suffer from sleep apnea. The most common form of this disorder is obstructive sleep apnea where the mouth palate and throat muscles collapse and block the upper airway while a person is sleeping. OSA interrupts sleep and actually prevents someone from achieving deep sleep, which repairs physical fatigue, and dream sleep, which is necessary for repairing mental fatigue.

As a result, those with untreated OSA will feel drowsy all day. OSA can contribute to diabetes and depression, and in serious cases, individuals may suffer heart attack or stroke. The important thing for truckers to remember is that sleep disorders put themselves and other drivers at risk. Drowsy driving is one of the leading causes of accidents involving trucks.

Recognizing OSA is the first step to prevention. The symptoms include loud snoring and continual gasping for air during sleep, headaches in the morning, irritability throughout the day and the inability to remember or focus on things.

Treatment options are varied. For mild OSA patients, a mouthguard called a mandibular advancement device may be enough. Others may need a continual stream of air pressure to keep the airways open, and this is what a CPAP machine provides. If these treatments fail, then surgery may be the way to go.

Drowsy driving is a form of negligence, which is why truckers at risk for OSA are required to undergo a sleep study. In the event that truckers or trucking companies ignore the risk for OSA, they can be held liable for any truck crashes that result from the drowsiness caused by the condition. Victims, for their part, may hire a lawyer. The lawyer might hire investigators and medical experts to show how the sleep disorder contributed to the crash.

From May 5 to 7, 2020, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance will be holding its annual International Roadcheck, so CMV drivers in Nevada should take note. During this time, police officers and inspectors will be out to enforce federal truck safety regulations. Most trucks will be put through the most comprehensive inspection possible, the 37-point North American Standard Level I inspection.

The special focus of the 2020 International Roadcheck is on driver qualifications. All too often, truckers will be driving with the wrong class license; in fact, this violation made up 22.5% of driver-related out-of-service violations in the 2019 roadcheck. Drivers may also fail to have records of duty status or carry a medical card for their conditions. Inspectors will check for these in addition to failure to wear a seat belt or comply with ELD regulations.

As for the trucks, these will have their various components inspected, including the fuel system, exhaust system, brakes, suspension, tires, steering, lights and driveline components. Cargo must be properly secured as well. In the end, drivers who pass the test will receive a CVSA decal for their truck.

Failure means being put out of service. In 2019, more than 12,000 trucks and 2,700 drivers were issued out-of-service orders. The most frequent driver-related order was for violations of the hours-of-service regulations.

Some truckers exceed the limit on how long they can drive per day, thus endangering themselves and others. Drowsy driving is just one form of negligence that has been shown to lead to truck collisions. Neglecting truck maintenance is another issue that the International Roadcheck is meant to curb. In the event that someone is injured in a truck crash, he or she may file a claim against the trucking company. It may be wise to seek legal counsel before filing.

A collision with a large truck on a Nevada highway can be a frightening prospect. Because these vehicles are so large and heavy, a truck accident can be especially devastating to others on the road around them. Truck accidents can be catastrophic, and they are also on the rise. Between 2009 and 2018, fatal crashes tied to large trucks rose by 52.6%, even as vehicle safety technologies improved. Between 2016 and 2018, fatalities caused by trucking accidents rose by 5.7%. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has announced plans to launch a study to delve into the cause of these crashes.

The FMCSA noted that this will be the first major crash study involving semis in 15 years. It will examine all serious truck crashes nationwide, including those that cause injuries and fatalities or those that require vehicles to be towed from the scene. The purpose of the study is not only to identify problems but also to develop plans that can improve highway safety and decrease the truck accident risk. The federal agency said that it planned to include electronic data as part of the study, including onboard information about speed, braking intensity and lane changes.

In the last major study of truck collisions, the FMCSA found that some type of driver error was the most common issue. In other cases, poorly maintained truck equipment could fail, causing a crash. Now, the agency wants to look into the effects of mobile devices and distracted driving on truck accidents.

The toll taken by a trucking accident can be severe, with victims facing expensive medical bills and a long time out of work. People injured in a truck crash may work with a personal injury lawyer to seek compensation for their damages.

According to the FMCSA’s Large Truck Crash Causation Study, 13% of commercial motor vehicle drivers were found to be fatigued at the time of their accidents. Fatigue can result from several things, including lack of sleep and extended work hours. Truckers in Nevada should consider the following tips for avoiding fatigue behind the wheel.

The first tip, and one of the more obvious, is to get adequate sleep and avoid driving during the “lulls” when the body is naturally drowsy. These lulls usually go from midnight to 6 a.m. and from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Next, truckers should eat well and regularly. Both a lack of food and a heavy meal can hinder sleep while a light snack beforehand can improve sleep. Truckers should avoid drowsiness-inducing medications, including allergy and cold medicines.

The next three tips are very basic: recognize the signs of drowsiness, take a nap when drowsy and don’t rely on “alertness tricks.” First, the signs are simple and include frequent yawning, heavy eyelids and trouble remembering the last few miles traveled. Truckers who take a nap should ensure that it’s at least 10 minutes long. Ideally, a nap should be 45 minutes long. As for those alertness tricks that don’t work, some examples are playing loud music and rolling down the windows.

When drowsy drivers cause truck collisions , they usually open up the way for a personal injury claim. Trucking companies work hard to deny most of these claims or get the victims to agree to a low-ball settlement. Therefore, someone who intends to file may want a lawyer by their side for negotiations. Even before that, a lawyer may prove helpful by bringing in crash investigators and other third parties to gather proof of the trucker’s negligence and strengthen the case in other ways.