Saving lives or saving dollars: The Trump administration rescinds plans to require sleep apnea testing in commercial transportation operators

Abstract

No abstract available. Article truncated at 150 words. In another move favoring business interests and against the common good, the Trump administration’s Department of Transportation announced recently that they are rescinding plans to require testing for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in train and commercial motor vehicle operators (1). As exemplified by its withdrawal from the Paris climate accords, this decision is another example of how the current administration disregards scientific findings and present-day events in establishing policy that will be detrimental to Americans. Let us step back for a moment and briefly review the evidence that the Trump administration has ignored. • It is well established that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can result in daytime sleepiness (2) and that sleepiness is detrimental to safe operation of a train or motor vehicle. • Many studies have established that persons with OSA have an increased risk of motor vehicle crashes (3). • Studies in commercial truck drivers have observed that this population has …

Keywords

• sleep apnea
• transportation
• testing
• politics
• motor vehicle
• train
• operator
• safety
• accident
• business