According to a June 2020 study released by USDOT, driver stress has been associated with risky driving behaviors. In a study of young drivers, anxiety and depression were associated with risky driving behaviors, such as speeding, not wearing a seat belt, and cell phone use while driving. While mental health issues have not been extensively studied in the commercial driver population, a recent survey of 316 CMV drivers reported the following prevalence estimates: loneliness (28 percent), depression (27 percent), chronic sleep disturbances (21 percent), anxiety (15 percent), and other emotional problems (13 percent).
The study points toward the importance of trucking companies to develop cost-effective programs to monitor/reduce driver stress and emotional issues in order to reduce dangers of their trucks to the driving public.
SOURCE: USDOT Study June 2020
The Girards Law Firm represents those injured or killed in commercial truck crashes.