Many truck drivers in California and across the U.S. aren’t getting enough sleep, according to a new study by researchers at Ball State University. Unfortunately, the problem appears to be getting worse.
For the study, which was published in the Journal of Community Health in September, researchers analyzed the sleep patterns of over 150,000 adults working in various professions. They found that the overall percentage of workers who get seven hours or less of sleep every 24 hours increased from 30.9% in 2010 to 35.6% in 2018. However, the study found the percentage of commercial drivers who reported getting inadequate sleep increased at an even sharper rate. In 2010, 32% of drivers working in the transport industry said they didn’t get enough sleep each night, but that figure jumped to 41% in 2018.
Researchers found that certain other professions also had high percentages of workers who are sleep-deprived. For instance, 50% of police officers and military members, 45% of health care support workers, and 41% of production workers fail to get enough rest each night. Researchers also found that the percentage of men getting inadequate sleep jumped from 30.5% in 2010 to 35.5% in 2018. Meanwhile, the percentage of women reporting sleep deprivation climbed from 31.2% in 2011 to 35.8% in 2018. The lead author of the study said that the researchers weren’t sure why the percentage of sleep-deprived Americans is increasing.
A Costa Mesa truck accident injury compensation law firm might be able to help individuals injured in accidents caused by truck driver fatigue obtain compensation for their medical expenses, lost wages and other damages. An attorney with the firm could evaluate a victim’s case and suggest the appropriate course of action. One possibility could be to file a personal injury lawsuit if a settlement can’t be reached.
