Tennessee Trucking Accident Attorneys Reveal How Some Truck Drivers Keep Themselves Awake

By Thomas Greer | October 22, 2014

The ability to remain awake and alert is a skill that is essential to the safety and success of professional truck drivers. Their work is physically and mentally demanding, and driving a truck can bring on fatigue much more quickly than you might expect. Between the stress of driving a very large truck for hours and hours each day in all kinds of traffic and all kinds of weather, the loneliness of being away from home for weeks at a time, and the monotonous hum of truck tires on the highway, there are many things working together against a truck driver’s ability to stay alert and energized.

The incidence of drowsiness and fatigue among truck drivers has been getting a lot of press lately, due, in part, to a tragic accident which injured comedian Tracy Morgan and killed his friend, comedian Jimmy Mack. Because of the recent attention to the topic of tired truckers, we are learning more and more about what makes truck drivers tired. We are also learning more about how truck drivers stay awake.

Every professional truck driver has his or her preferred methods for staying alert while on the road. Some truckers swear by the classic and healthy combination of adequate rest and proper nutrition. These drivers take care to follow the hours of service regulations so that they not only stay within the law; they also begin their shifts well rested. Nutritious meals can be difficult to come by out on the road, but with a little effort, those drivers who wish to eat well can make it happen. Many drivers take naps at regular intervals, to refresh themselves. Some drivers say that taking time out for breaks to walk or exercise not only feels good and helps to reduce stress, it also helps them to maintain a good energy level throughout the day. Of course, no discussion of ways to stay awake while driving would be complete without mention of coffee, a favorite among motorists of all types, including truck drivers.

Some truck drivers use illegal drugs while they are on the job, because they feel that the substances ease the stress of the job and help them to stay awake. Drug use is not only illegal; it is unsafe for both the truck drivers and everyone else on the road. While there are multiple types of drugs that some truck drivers use, methamphetamine (“meth”) is among the most popular. Drivers who use meth report that it helps them to stay awake, but that’s only part of the story. Meth can also affect drivers’ reaction times and depth perception, both of which are essential to the safe operation of a tractor trailer. It can also cause hallucinations and vertigo, which affect the ability to drive safely.  Long term health effects of meth like strokes and heart attacks also pose a danger to truckers other motorists, because they can cause serious accidents which are often fatal to both the driver and others who are involved.

Accident victims who are injured by drivers who are high on meth or other drugs deserve adequate and prompt compensation. If you have been injured in a Tennessee trucking accident, the knowledgeable Tennessee Trucking Accident Attorneys at Bailey & Greer, PLLC will sit down with you to learn about your case, explain your options, and help you decide how to proceed. To learn more, call us at 901-680-9777 to schedule a time to discuss your case.  At Bailey & Greer, PLLC, we are small enough to care, big enough to fight, and experienced enough to win.

Posted in Blog

Leave a Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.