Impact of diabetes on crash risks of truck-permit holders and commercial drivers.

OBJECTIVE

The U.S. and some Canadian government agencies have waived commercial license restrictions for some insulin-using diabetic drivers. However, the U.S. Federal Highway Administration is no longer giving waivers. Scientific evidence to support such regulations has been sparse. This article presents detailed analyses of crash risks for users and nonusers of insulin among diabetic truck-permit holders in Québec, Canada.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Diabetic truck-permit holders were group-matched by age to a random sample of healthy permit holders. Data on permits, medical conditions, and crashes involving 13,453 permit holder-years in 1987-1990 were extracted from the files of the public insurer for automobile injuries in Québec. Additional health status data were obtained from the provincial public health insurer. A telephone survey was conducted to collect data on driving patterns and exposure. Risk ratios were estimated using negative binomial regression models.

RESULTS

Risk ratios for crashes vary by category of diabetes. Permit holders for single-unit trucks (STs) who are diabetic without complications and not using insulin have an increased crash risk of 1.68 when compared with healthy permit holders of the same permit class. When controlling for risk exposure, commercial drivers with an ST permit and the same diabetic condition have an increased risk of 1.76. Insulin use is not associated with higher crash risk.

CONCLUSIONS

The increased crash risk for the group with uncomplicated diabetes not using insulin is a new finding. The lack of consistent increases in crash risks among diabetic commercial drivers with complications or who use insulin may be a "healthy worker effect" masking the real risk, because these licensees have a lower participation rate as professional drivers.