Sleep Apnea Called Transport Safety Issue

Truck and bus drivers and merchant ship pilots should be tested for sleep apnea, a U.S. agency says. The National Transportation Safety Board proposed the new rule. The Associated Press wrote about the proposal October 20. The safety board sent its advice in letters to agencies that regulate trucks, buses and ships. The board said sleep apnea tests can help prevent accidents. It cited several examples of fatal accidents caused by drivers or pilots who had sleep apnea. The condition affects the quality of sleep. It can make people drowsy in the daytime. Earlier this year, the safety board endorsed sleep apnea tests for airline pilots and train operators.