There has been a close link between excessive daytime sleepiness and the increased risk of severe traffic accidents. Excessive daytime sleepiness and impaired cognitive function are some of the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea, which is known to impair driving ability. So, there have been a countless number of traffic accidents linked with obstructive sleep apnea. However, it seems that not every person with sleep apnea is at the same risk.

There have been a couple of European countries which have made specific regulations about excessive daytime sleepiness, obstructive sleep apnea, and the ability to obtain/keep a driving license. Additionally, there is a general rule in most countries that ‘a driving license should not be given or renewed to any candidate or license holder suffering from a disorder…likely to compromise safety on the road.’ However, this rule doesn’t mention sleep apnea specifically. The measures which are taken to determine whether or not a driver is fit or unfit to drive differ from country to country.

How Does Sleep Apnea Affect Your Driving?

Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder which can have a huge impact over a person’s performance and alertness. So, if this sleep disorder is untreated, it usually causes difficulty to stay awake, react quickly and keep your eyes focused, especially when you’re driving. Thus, plenty of studies have shown that people with untreated sleep apnea are at an increased risk of a fatigue-related motor vehicle accident. This doesn’t mean that people have to fall asleep while driving to have a crash, but an accident can happen due to many reasons. Just keep in mind that having sleep apnea prevents you from being as sharp as you should be.

Are You Allowed to Drive If You Have Sleep Apnea?

Luckily, you are still allowed to drive even if you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea. The FMCSA regulations don’t address sleep apnea, but they state that a person who has a medical history or clinical diagnosis of any condition likely to interfere with their ability to drive safely isn’t medically qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce.

Nevertheless, when a person gets proper treatment for their sleep apnea, they can become medically qualified to drive again. In order to know whether your state has certain medical standards for driving a CMV in intrastate commerce, you should check the local Department of Motor Vehicles for regulations.

Moreover, as soon as you get diagnosed with sleep apnea, you should contact a medical qualifying examiner who will determine whether or not you are able to operate a commercial motor vehicle. They will also help you choose the proper treatment for your condition.

What Level of Sleep Apnea Disqualifies a CMV Driver?

The commercial motor vehicle driver can be unfit to drive depending on their level of sleep apnea. Hence, a person can have moderate to severe sleep apnea, which interferes with safe driving. It is the medical examiner which will determine whether you are fit for driving. In case your condition affects your ability to safely operate the vehicle, you might not be permitted to operate a CMV. Therefore, it’s crucial to choose an effective treatment which will all eviate the symptoms of sleep apnea and avoid driving while you’re using the treatment. After there is any improvement and you are fully alert, you might be fit again to drive safely.