“Don’t drive impaired.” While those words may seem like common-sense advice for operators of any vehicles, from bikes to Class 8 tractor-trailers, the truth is that we share the roads with impaired drivers every day.
Sometimes that impaired driver is you.
Alcohol impairment
When people think of the word “impaired,” many think of alcohol — and with good reason. The danger that alcohol presents on the road is easy to quantify. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 13,500 people died in 2022 due to alcohol related crashes. That’s 37 people every day, or a fatality every 39 minutes.
For commercial drivers, rules and regulations set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) make it easy to define impaired driving: No driver is allowed to operate equipment within four hours of consuming alcohol.
In addition, regardless of when the alcohol was consumed, a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.04 percent is considered impaired — and it can result in the suspension of a driver’s CDL. Professional drivers are held to a higher standard than the general public: Note that 0.04 percent is only half the BAC concentration considered “impaired” by most states.
Drug or substance impairment
However, the numbers aren’t so easily available when it comes to other forms of impairment. That’s because it’s much harder to quantify the effects of, for example, illegal drugs.
Because the drug trade is conducted illegally, there is no oversight in the manufacturing or quality control of illegal substances. The dosage may be cut with inert ingredients to increase salable quantity — or bolstered with other drugs to increase effectiveness.
On top of that, drugs impact everyone differently, making it impossible to set or enforce a limit that defines “impaired,” and very nearly impossible to gather statistics on accidents related to illegal drug use.
Even FMCSA controlled substance testing lacks the ability to determine impairment. Drug tests can only show that the drug was used but not how it might impact driving ability. In fact, it’s very possible for the effects of drugs that show up on a drug test to have completely worn off by the time the driver got behind the wheel.
Determining impairment is a judgement call by the driver — and it’s a call that no professional trucker can afford to get wrong.
Other causes of impairment
Impairment isn’t limited to illegal substances and alcohol. There are drivers who never use either … but they still could be driving impaired. That’s because there are other substances and conditions that cause impairment.
Over-the-counter drugs
Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs can help alleviate pain, suppress cold symptoms and help drivers sleep, among other benefits. They can also lessen the ability to drive safely.
Cold and allergy medications, for example, often come with side effects that aren’t compatible with safe driving.
Diphenhydramine hydrochloride isn’t a chemical most people are familiar with. It’s the active ingredient in Benadryl, the familiar pink pills commonly used to relieve nasal congestion. It’s also the active ingredient in sleep aids such as Unisom, Nytol, Zzzquil and others.
It’s no wonder that drowsiness and dizziness are listed as side effects of cold medications. Diphenhydramine hydrochloride is also often combined with pain relievers like acetaminophen and ibuprofen in medications that are labeled “PM” or are designed to promote rest.
Another cold remedy, dextromethorphan, is often found in cough medications. It can cause some people to hallucinate, and it can restrict the mental ability to focus for others.
It’s important to read the directions, including potential side effects, of any OTC medication you plan to take. Even though a prescription isn’t required, a discussion with a pharmacist that includes your plan to operate a commercial vehicle is a good idea.
Fatigue
One impairment that doesn’t always involve medication or other substances is fatigue. In fact, the CDC estimates that 1 in 5 fatal crashes involves driver fatigue.
According to the CDC, the average person’s impairment after 17 hours of being awake is equivalent to a BAC of 0.05 percent — that’s higher than the FMCSA legal limit for alcohol. The effects of fatigue can be worse if you didn’t sleep well during your last break, you’ve performed more physical labor than usual or you’ve had a particularly stressful day.
In short: If you’re tired, your driving may be impaired.
Emotions
While many of us like to think we can function normally in any situation and that emotions aren’t a factor, that simply isn’t true. Emotions can be both the cause of and the result of stress, and they can increase fatigue.
Emotions can also cause impairment on their own.
Drivers who are angry, worried or depressed can easily be distracted by their own thoughts. Trying to solve marital problems or repairing a work relationship while driving a commercial vehicle can be a dangerous combination.
Navigating a truck, especially in congested traffic, is a job that takes full mental focus. That’s something that’s difficult to do when emotions are running high.
Distraction
Distraction is another commonly overlooked impairment. Emotions may distract your mind from your driving, but there are other distractions that can occupy your attention (and your eyes), potentially causing you to miss important details you need to make sound driving decisions.
It’s natural to think of cellphones when distractions are discussed, but they aren’t the only attention-stealing culprits. Devices designed to make your job easier, like GPS units, can be distractions if they take your eyes away from the road. Even road signs can be distractions if it takes too long to find the information you need.
Here’s why it’s so important to keep your attention on the road:
Let’s say you’re traveling 60 mph. You’re traveling nearly 88 feet per second. A five-second look at an interesting billboard takes your eyes away from the area in front of your vehicle for a distance of 440 feet. That’s more than six times the length of the average tractor-trailer. A lot can happen in that much space — and you may not have enough time or distance to safely stop if you don’t see a hazard until several seconds have passed.
Whether you’re checking out the scenery, reading road signs or observing other motorists, keep your glances brief, and never stop scanning.
Minimize all sources of impairment
Completely avoiding all forms of impairment may be impossible, but you can minimize the effect on your driving:
- Avoid substances that impair your abilities;
- Know the side effects of any OTC substances you might use; and
- Be aware when fatigue or emotional turbulence are affecting your driving.
You may need to avoid taking medications, get some rest or deal with an impactful issue before you’re at your best again.
By knowing the causes and signs of impairment in yourself, you can reduce the risk of the consequences of impairment-related crashes, including injuries, medical costs, property damage, loss of employment or driving privileges and, ultimately, deaths.
After all, getting everyone home safely should be everyone’s first job.
Cliff Abbott is an experienced commercial vehicle driver and owner-operator who still holds a CDL in his home state of Alabama. In nearly 40 years in trucking, he’s been an instructor and trainer and has managed safety and recruiting operations for several carriers. Having never lost his love of the road, Cliff has written a book and hundreds of songs and has been writing for The Trucker for more than a decade.
