It has become known that the driver involved in the crash in the previous story had Type I Diabetes, had suffered many hypoglycemic attacks, and was well aware of his condition. His family and friends are blaming the accident on one of these attacks.

edmontonsun.com - Alberta- Crash rocks Grande Cache

Friends and family, meanwhile, defended the dead man, who they say had had Type 1 diabetes since he was a child. Friends suggested the medical condition may have triggered Santos’s bizarre driving behaviour.

If indeed this driver was aware of his condition, and was prone to these attacks, is it safe to assume that he is at fault in this tragedy? Does the driver not maintain responsibility for knowing whether or not he/she is safe to drive? If the response to this is yes, then a driver who knows he has diabetic blackouts should surrender his license in order to do his part in ensuring highway safety.

For years diabetics have been fighting the system to allow them to drive commercial vehicles. In Canada there is not a lot stopping them beyond a physician taking away their license. Unfortunately, the criteria require the driver to self report to their physician that they have been having episodes. If they don’t report the doctors don’t know, so off they go putting our lives in jeopardy.

At one time, CDL holders in the United States could not have diabetes. With lots of lobbying by diabetic groups this has been changed.

Nowhere in the below article is there any mention of public safety should people prone to seizures be permitted CDL’s. Epileptics can’t get a CDL or a Class 1 in Alberta, but Diabetics, who’s seizures can be just as bad and last a much longer time are able to get the licenses. What is wrong with this picture?

Letter to Commercial Drivers Announcing CDL Victory - American Diabetes Association

Drivers with insulin-treated diabetes who wish to drive in interstate commerce will still need to apply for an exemption with FMCSA. The new rule will require that individuals with insulin-treated diabetes demonstrate stable control of diabetes while on insulin. Individuals who have type 1 diabetes will need to have been on insulin for two months before they are eligible to apply for an exemption, and individuals with type 2 diabetes will have had to have been on insulin for one month.

When is enough enough? I am now, after reaching 45 years of age, required to have a medical examination every 2 years to maintain my class 1 license in Alberta. What does this mean? This means I go to a doctor and lie about my health and he signs off on the medical! Indeed, the doctor I went to this year should have FAILED me on my medical based upon my vision. Rather than fail me he told me to make sure I see an optometrist prior to my next medical, in two years time. What is stopping me from waiting two years, running a few lights and maybe just maybe killing someone? Nothing. He passed me. Of course I have since attended an optometrist and been prescribed glasses. But that isn’t the point. My vision is a little fuzzy without glasses. I can still see. How easy would it be for a diabetic to go to the same doctor and say, “Hey doc, no seizures for two years.”? I doubt there is any way for the doctor to prove whether or not he is being completely honest.

I believe it is time we all lobby our governments and trucking groups and insist on the requirements for commercial licenses being changed. If a person is at risk of having any type of seizures, heart attacks or strokes, they should be immediately precluded from operating commercial vehicles. Both for their own good and the good of the motoring public.

I am not a heartless unfeeling bastard. I just feel that people who have potentially dangerous medical conditions need to be removed from situations where they are a danger to the public.

Gene Orlick, head of the AMTA stated on the news tonight, that people have heart attacks and strokes at the wheel all the time, and that this was just one more example of a medical condition that had bad results.

Gene, what are you thinking? This guy KNEW he was a potential hazard. If his family and friends knew he was prone to hypoglycemic seizures, can we not draw a line to the fact that, HE KNEW he was prone to seizures? Yes, unexpected heart attacks and strokes happen. The key word is unexpected. However, should I have an angina attack on the weekend, and the doctor tells me I am a candidate for a heart attack, am I not responsible if I take a set of turnpikes down highway 2, have a heart attack and kill people? I knew I was a potential hazard!! This guy KNEW he was a potential hazard and should not, therefore have been on the road.

As an AMTA LCV Instructor, and PDIC Instructor, and a professional driver turning a hundred thousand miles a year, I say, “ENOUGH is ENOUGH.”

As angry as I am, my heart goes out to the family of Mark Santos. I am sorry for your loss. It should never have happened.