Older Truck Drivers, Accident Risks, and Alzheimer’s

TEXAS. According to NPR, the average age of the American truck driver is 55 years old. As truck drivers get older, and as the industry struggles to replace older drivers with younger ones, these drivers’ health risks can pose a general risk to other drivers on the road. While older drivers can be very safe behind the wheel, health changes that come with aging can impact their ability to drive safely. Older drivers have more experience, which is a good thing. But as older drivers experience more health problems, these issues can impact their safety and can sometimes lead to accidents.

According to the National Institute on Aging, changes to hearing and vision can impact a driver’s ability to operate a vehicle safely. As we age, our reaction time can also slow down. Stiff joints and muscles can also decrease reaction time. Older drivers may also be on medication that can impact their reaction time, alertness, and other factors important to driving. Some drivers may not always be aware that medication can impact their ability to operate a motor vehicle.

Dementia can also impact a person’s ability to drive safely. However, when dementia or Alzheimer’s isn’t diagnosed, drivers can get behind the wheel when they shouldn’t be there. Unfortunately, drivers with dementia may not be aware of their own cognitive decline. Truck drivers may be particularly at risk. Social isolation, distance from family and friends, and other factors can make it more difficult for a diagnosis to be made. Often it is family and friends who first notice mental changes that go along with dementia.

A recent study was performed to evaluate how dementia could impact a person’s ability to drive. Sensors were put on the cars of older drivers, and the scientists recorded the driver’s routes, sudden stops, and length of trips. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, dementia can be linked to shorter trips, driving only during the day, and avoiding driving during poor weather.

While commercial truck drivers are required to undergo regular medical evaluations to determine whether they are safe to drive, drivers who deteriorate quickly or suffer sudden health changes might fly under the radar for some time. What can the trucking industry do to keep drivers and others on the road safe?

Perhaps, older drivers should be asked to undergo more frequent medical evaluations or report any new medications they are taking. Older drivers should also be given additional advice on ways they can stay safe, such as leaving more distance between themselves and a vehicle in front of them, and trying to keep their shifts to daylight hours. However, driving during daylight hours poses its own risks, such as increased traffic on the road. The trucking industry could also possibly use sensors similar to those used by research participants in the recent dementia study reported by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. If truck companies see drivers’ behavior change, then the company can ask the driver to get medically evaluated.

However, most of these recommendations cost money. In a cost-cutting industry like trucking, we aren’t likely to see many changes anytime soon. Truck drivers and companies still have a responsibility for being safe behind the wheel. If you or a loved one was hurt in a truck accident in Texas, consider reaching out to the Texas truck accident lawyers at the Cooper Law Firm. Our firm understands the unique challenges truck accident victims face. Contact us at  https://www.cooper-law-firm.com/ to learn more about how we may be able to help you seek damages for your medical costs, pain and suffering, and lost wages.

Cooper Law Firm
501 N Third St,
Longview, TX 75601
Telephone: (903) 297-0037