The latest Idealease Safety Bulletin, "Allergy medications can impair drivers" is available for download!   Read the entire bulletin online here, or click the image below to download a PDF version.  Don't forget to sign up to have them delivered straight to your inbox each week for instant access to the latest safety news, tips and information!  

Looking for past safety bulletins? Find the complete archive at: https://www.idealease.com/safety-compliance/safety-bulletins

REMEMBER TO "SPRING FORWARD" TO DAYLIGHT SAVINGS THIS SUNDAY

• Starts this Sunday, March 14th at 2AM - "Spring Ahead" and set clocks forward 1 hour
  

• Due to 'losing an hour', many people sleep an average of 40 minutes less Sunday night. Try to sleep in Sunday morning and take a nap in the afternoon to avoid being sleepy. Experts recommend a minimum of 7 hours of sleep each night. 
  

• Remember to caution route drivers that the amount of daylight on their routes and stops will change

• Good time to change batteries in carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms

ALLERGY MEDICATIONS CAN IMPAIR DRIVERS

Driving Under the Influence - Of Allergy Medicine!

Spring is almost here and will soon bring a slew of seasonal allergies! Experts have predicted that the 2021 allergy season could potentially be more severe compared to previous years.  

It is important to remember that some over the counter allergy medications can seriously affect your ability to drive a CMV.

University of Iowa researchers tested allergy sufferers in a driving simulator and found that diphenhydramine (an antihistamine found in allergy and cold medicines) significantly impaired a driver's ability to steer, maintain the correct lane and follow.  The study concluded that it actually had more of an impact on driving performance than alcohol. 

Of the 39 million Americans suffering from allergies and hay fever, researchers said that 4.8 million take prescription drugs. The remaining either go without or take over-the-counter allergy medications. While effective, these medications often come with drowsiness warnings and statements to exercise caution while operating machinery or a motor vehicle. 

Over the counter medications can impair abilities even if you do not feel drowsy! Drivers often do not consider that the medication can affect both cognitive and motor abilities. Unfortunately this is a serious problem resulting in thousands of accidents a year. 

Medications can impair our bodies in several ways:

• blur vision
• drowsiness
• hyperactivity
• alter depth perception
• see or hear things that aren't there
• raise/lower blood pressure
• increase/decrease reaction times
• concentration problems
• coordination
• anxiety
• dizziness

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that drowsy driving is responsible for 100,000 traffic accidents and 1,500 deaths each year. Common prescription drugs, as well as a number of other medications used to treat pain, allergies, diabetes, high blood pressure, ulcers, anxiety, depression and insomnia can affect vision, coordination and cause drowsiness, presenting a number of serious hazards on the road.  

Some drugs can make you feel alert, however the situation may be quite different.  

Here is a partial list of legal drugs, that, in the right amounts, can impair one's ability to operate a motor vehicle:

Be sure to partner with your physician and pharmacist to learn information regarding your medication's side effects, and what drugs are usually safe to combine-especially behind the wheel. 

Never take more than the prescribed dose and inquire about non-sedating forms of your prescriptions if you are a professional driver. Allow your body time to adjust to new medications before you drive. Most importantly, each of us is responsible for knowing the signs and symptoms of being drug impaired before we get behind the wheel of any vehicle.

For more information including side effects of any drug visit www.drugs.com.

CVSA'S 2021 INTERNATIONAL ROADCHECK SCHEDULED MAY 4TH THROUGH 6TH

EMPHASIS ON LIGHTING AND HOURS OF SERVICE

• What is it? An annual CVSA program with participation by FMCSA, Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators, Transport Canada, and Mexico's Ministry of Communications and Transportation and its National Guard. 
• 72 hour period of inspections on CMVs and drivers throughout Mexico, Canada and the United States
• 2021 Driver Category Focus - Hours of Service 
• 2021 Vehicle Category Focus - Lighting

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), "lamps inoperable" was the #1 violation in 2020, accounting for 12.24% of all vehicle-related violations. 

Likewise, the top driver out-of-service violation in 2020 was hours of service, accounting for 34.7% of all driver violations.

Learn More:  https://www.cvsa.org/programs/international-roadcheck/

CANADA TO START ELD EDUCATIONAL ENFORCEMENT ON JUNE 12

Transport Canada has issued a notice that it will not penalize motor carriers for failing to adopt ELDs (Electronic Logging Devices) but will rather work together with the industry to create a 'progressive enforcement period' on their adoption.  An education and awareness campaign on ELD adoption is expected instead. 

Statement from Omar Alghabra, Canada's Minister of Transport: 

• "With the support of the provinces and territories, and in consultation with the industry, we will work together on the successful and effective implementation of a progressive enforcement period. This will give sufficient time for industry to obtain and install certified electronic logging devices without penalty as of June 12, 2021. Early enforcement measures will consist of education and awareness.”

The minister also acknowledged the impact COVID-19 has had on CMV operations.  While ELD enforcement will be educational to start, the minister still encouraged carriers to implement certified ELDs as soon as possible. 

Many trucking industry groups and associations throughout Canada have been pushing for an enforcement delay due to COVID-19 and the fact that there had yet to be any certified ELDs available within just a few months of the mandate effective date.  

Transport Canada has failed to designate any ELD as approved for use so it is impossible to comply with the requirements currently.  Under the regulations, all ELDs in use in Canada must be approved by a 3rd party certification entity. 

Canada's ELD mandate applies to all federally regulated carriers in Canada, as well as US-based carriers operating in Canada. 

Learn More: https://www.ccmta.ca/en/canadian-eld-standard/canadian-eld-standard-faq-s

APRIL 26-30TH IS NATIONAL WORK ZONE AWARENESS WEEK

• Annual spring campaign held at start of construction season
• Encourages safe driving through highway work zones and construction sites
• Key message is for drivers to use extra caution in work zones. Drive Safe. Work Safe. Saves Lives.  
• Learn More: https://www.nwzaw.org/

ELEVATE YOUR DRIVER'S PERFORMANCE! 

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If you have a question or would like a topic covered, please email jerryring@idealease.com.

*The Idealease Safety Bulletin is provided for Idealease locations and their customers and is not to be construed as a complete or exhaustive source of compliance or safety information. The Idealease Safety Bulletin is advisory in nature and does not warrant, guarantee, or otherwise certify compliance with laws, regulations, requirements, or guidelines of any local, state, or Federal agency and/or governing body, or industry standards.