Alcohol Testing for Truckers and Bus Drivers Reduces Risk Of Alcohol Involvement in Fatal Crashes 23 Percent

Alcohol Testing for Truck and Bus Drivers Lessens Alcohol Involvement in Fatal Crashes

A Relatively Simple Choice to Lower Work Comp Cost — T E S T

Recent studies published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, indicates mandatory alcohol testing programs for truck and bus drivers is a factor in lessening alcohol involvement in fatal crashes.

Dr. Guohua Li, professor of epidemiology at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University and colleagues at The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, reported there are about 4,000 fatal crashes involving heavy trucks and buses each year and approximately 3% of the motor carrier drivers and 27% of non-motor-carrier drivers in these fatal crashes are discovered to be under the influence of alcohol. (workersxzcompxzkit)

The study encompassed 70,000 motor carrier — heavy trucks and buses — drivers and more than 83,000 non-motor-carrier (car) drivers. A further look at the study estimates the net effect related to the mandatory alcohol testing programs for drivers of heavy trucks and buses was a 23% decreased risk of alcohol involvement in fatal crashes.

Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risks Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers’ Compensation costs, including airlines, health care, manufacturing, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. He can be contacted at: Robert_Elliott@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com or 860-786-8286.

We are accepting short articles* (400-1200 words) on WC cost containment. Contact us at: Info@WorkersCompKit.com. *Non-compensable.