Participants of a meeting with the U.S. Department of Transportation's Medical Review Board suggested Wednesday that medication used to treat certain psychological disorders may affect the safety of commercial drivers.
“These drugs may affect cognitive and psycho motor abilities that could contribute to crash risk,” said James Reston, a Senior Research Analyst at the ECRI Institute during the review board's public meeting.
The medication in question is called benzodiazepine, a drug that is used to help treat certain psychological disorders such as anxiety, insomnia, and seizures.
“Individuals who are diagnosed with one of the psychiatric disorders of concern should demonstrate that they are likely to be able to perform their normal duties by undergoing an evaluation of both physical and mental functions by qualified psychiatrists,” said Jessica Williams of the Manila Consulting Group.
Board member Dr. Benjamin Hoffman also proposed a recommendation to allow any licensed medical professional that has obtained a Masters degree or higher to evaluate an individual who is a high-risk driver due to their prescription drug use and psychological disorder. The panelists did not choose to discuss this recommendation during their deliberations, but said they would discuss it in the future.
The effects of daytime sleepiness on the safety of commercial drivers was also addressed.
“The other risk factors [for crash] that we found in terms of a sleep disorder in general include having sleep apnea, insomnia, or the quality of sleep…The time of day was associated with increased crash risk. People driving at night…sleep habits, [etc.],” said Stephen Tregear of the Manila Consulting Group
“Sleepiness is episodic,” added review board member Dr. Barbara Phillips. “So much of sleepiness depends on behavior. We don’t have to have an illness to have a crash based on sleepiness. It really depends on our behavior. Whether or not you take antihistamines, sleeping pills, [etc.]…there has to be a real time evaluation in order for this to have any meaning.”
Certain Meds Could Inhibit Commercial Drivers' Safety, Experts Say
Participants of a meeting with the U.S. Department of Transportation's Medical Review Board suggested Wednesday that medication used to treat certain psychological disorders may affect the safety of commercial drivers.
“These drugs may affect cognitive and psycho motor abilities that could contribute to crash risk,” said James Reston, a Senior Research Analyst at the ECRI Institute during the review board's public meeting.
The medication in question is called benzodiazepine, a drug that is used to help treat certain psychological disorders such as anxiety, insomnia, and seizures.
“Individuals who are diagnosed with one of the psychiatric disorders of concern should demonstrate that they are likely to be able to perform their normal duties by undergoing an evaluation of both physical and mental functions by qualified psychiatrists,” said Jessica Williams of the Manila Consulting Group.
Board member Dr. Benjamin Hoffman also proposed a recommendation to allow any licensed medical professional that has obtained a Masters degree or higher to evaluate an individual who is a high-risk driver due to their prescription drug use and psychological disorder. The panelists did not choose to discuss this recommendation during their deliberations, but said they would discuss it in the future.
The effects of daytime sleepiness on the safety of commercial drivers was also addressed.
“The other risk factors [for crash] that we found in terms of a sleep disorder in general include having sleep apnea, insomnia, or the quality of sleep…The time of day was associated with increased crash risk. People driving at night…sleep habits, [etc.],” said Stephen Tregear of the Manila Consulting Group
“Sleepiness is episodic,” added review board member Dr. Barbara Phillips. “So much of sleepiness depends on behavior. We don’t have to have an illness to have a crash based on sleepiness. It really depends on our behavior. Whether or not you take antihistamines, sleeping pills, [etc.]…there has to be a real time evaluation in order for this to have any meaning.”