How Poor Diet Leads to Poor Driving Behavior in Truckers
One of the most popular resolutions many people make each year is to get into better shape. Unfortunately, that pledge is hard for many to follow through on, and it can impact all aspects of society, including the trucking industry.
According to data collected by the American Trucking Associations, there were 3.54 million truck drivers employed in the U.S. in 2022. The concern is that a poor diet could lead to poor driving behavior in truckers, and that translates into an increased risk of accidents.
A study published by Occupational and Environmental Medicine by the BMJ came to the following conclusion:
“Overall, the driving behaviors of truck drivers are correlated with their dietary patterns. Drivers who preferred vegetables and staple foods had more positive driving behavior, while the animal-derived food and snack patterns were related to dangerous driving behavior. The experience of fatigue could explain the underlying mechanism between these factors.”
The Weight Factor
According to Penn Medicine, if a person has a body mass index (BMI) over 30, they are considered obese. The research hospital contends that this means that there are currently 72 million Americans who would be considered obese. That excess weight can impact a person’s driving abilities in the following ways:
Maneuverability
An overweight truck driver could have diminished control over their rig. They might have difficulty reaching the pedals, operating the steering wheel, and performing other control functions in their semi-truck. That can trigger delayed reaction time when a trucker has to brake to avoid a collision.
Increase Risk of Sleep Apnea
A person who is obese or overweight has an increased risk of developing sleep apnea.
That is an ailment that disrupts a person’s sleep patterns. That can manifest as excessive daytime drowsiness, which is a considerable problem for long-haul truckers.
If a trucker is not fully rested, they are not alert, and that puts everyone on the road at risk.
Diabetes
Excess weight is a contributing factor in the development of diabetes. One of the symptoms of diabetes is fluctuations in blood sugar levels. When those levels drop, the person can experience dizziness, blurred vision, or confusion.
It’s plausible that these could result in a head-on truck collision or almost any other type of one. So, those are definitely not the kinds of things you want a truck driver to experience while on the road.
Diabetes also affects the nerves in your hands and feet, which can make it difficult to operate the truck’s pedals and steering wheel effectively if they are experiencing numbness, tingling, and pain consistent with neuropathy.
Dehydration and Driving a Truck
Poor diet can also include drinking habits. The challenge for many truckers is to meet their delivery deadlines. To meet those deadlines, some truckers reason they can’t stop even for bathroom breaks. As a result, they don’t drink as much as they should, leading to dehydration.
According to the Mayo Clinic, people who experience dehydration can exhibit the following symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Extreme thirst
All of those symptoms can contribute to dangerous driving conditions. A study published in Physiology and Behavior by Science Direct found that slightly dehydrated drivers committed the same number of errors as someone who was driving with a blood alcohol content over the legal limit.
Contributing Factors
It is clear that a truck driver’s eating habits can have an impact on their driving skills. That might also be a contributing factor in a trucking accident.
The Trucking Injury Law Group is a team of experienced attorneys focused on helping trucking accident victims.
We provide support for clients in Seattle and across multiple neighboring states. If you or someone you love has been involved in a trucking accident, call to set up a free consultation to discuss what happened.
