Driving down the road, those big 18-wheelers tend to make drivers a little nervous. Whether or not you know the life of a trucker, you probably are justified in being a little uneasy around these massive vehicles. New Jersey truck drivers are on the road for hours at a time and now the Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee is discussing whether to test obese truck drivers for sleep apnea, which may be contributing to more truck accidents because it leads to fatigue.

The Committee says that sleep apnea, which is more common in people who are overweight, is a danger to the truck drivers and others on the road because it leads to fatigue and may cause some drivers to fall asleep behind the wheel. They will be taking recommendations to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration sometime this year on how to address the issue with truck drivers.

While this is just one of the things that seem to increase the chances of a truck accident in New Jersey, there are countless others. Many drivers sleep in the back of their vehicles, meaning they often don't get proper sleep. Drivers are also on another person's schedule, trying to get their goods delivered so they can pick up another job.

Although there are laws dictating how long a commercial driver can be on the road, and they are required to keep a log of their driving time, miles and breaks, not all truck drivers are honest on their logs. Sometimes they make changes to their logs so they can deliver their goods quickly and get on to the next job. New Jersey drivers should be aware of their rights if they are ever injured in a truck accident.

Source: Huffington Post, "Sleep Apnea In Truck Drivers: Advisory Panels Recommend Screening For Condition In Obese Drivers," Amanda L. Chan, Dec. 19, 2011