A petition to make haulage companies acknowledge the dangers caused by drivers suffering from obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) has received almost 800 signatures.  The potentially lethal sleeping disorder is easily treated yet often goes undiagnosed because people may not realise they are afflicted.  A Commercial Motor investigation (CM 3 November) recently highlighted how up to 10% of all HGV drivers could have OSA.

An e-petition was set up to raise awareness after a collision on the M25 last year in which a lorry driver fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into a car killing one of the occupants and leaving Daniel Upcraft with serious brain damage.  Upcraft's mother Carole says she created the petition to prevent another person being killed by a treatable condition.

Her MP Jo Johnson has also raised the issue in Parliament, and transport minister Mike Penning has committed to raising awareness of the issue.

In response transport minister Mike Penning says: "The department is committed to identifying opportunities to raise awareness of obstructive sleep apnoea. A number of initiatives are ongoing with commercial drivers including questioning them directly about it as part of their compulsory medicals for driver licensing purposes and sending our 'Tiredness Can Kill' leaflet to raise awareness of the condition with them and their employers."

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