A large 18-wheeler is no match for a fuel-efficient compact car. That's why it's very important truck drivers are getting the proper sleep they need to operate their vehicles safely. A new report suggests that sleep apnea, a disorder often associated with obesity, contributes to fatigue which increases the risk of a truck accident on Georgia highways.

That's why the Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee will draft recommendations this year on how to deal with sleep apnea in America's commercial truck drivers. They will discuss ideas on how to potentially screen drivers and what procedures should be followed if a driver is diagnosed with sleep apnea. They will then take their recommendations to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

More regulation of truck drivers is frowned upon by some in the trucking industry. They say that the drivers are more likely to get into truck accidents because of pure exhaustion, not from sleep apnea. Proponents of the regulations, who've had family members killed by drivers diagnosed with sleep apnea, say these regulations are needed and will safe countless lives.

Truck accidents are common in Georgia and across the country when truck drivers are rushed to deliver their goods to their destination. Many times, the faster the driver get's to the destination, the faster they can pick up another job, and make more money. Because of this rushed culture in the trucking community, regulations that help stop preventable accidents will continue to be important, especially to those families already affected by truck accidents.

Source: The Huffington Post, "Sleep Apnea In Truck Drivers: Advisory Panels Recommend Screening For Condition In Obese Drivers," Amanda L. Chan, Dec. 19, 2012