1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140 
Energy drink warning for drivers
Page 14
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Chr VV.,73i-r;rn
DRIVERS THAT rely on highcaffeine 'energy drinks' to keep them going behind the wheel have been warned they could experience serious lapses in concentration and slower reaction times as the effects of the drink begin to wear off.
The Institute of Advanced Motorists (JAM) has flagged up an alert issued by the US National Safety Commission for those driving under caffeine intoxication, which is similar to the warnings associated with drinking alcohol and driving.
The warning says that excessive caffeine consumption can cause similar symptoms to alcohol intoxication, including irritability, nervousness, irregular or rapid heartbeat, muscle twitching and rambling speech.
LAM managing director Seb Goldin says: "Energy drinks are good as a quick-fix, but they're no substitute for regular breaks. Tiredness affects reaction times, If you fall asleep at the wheel, the results are nearly always fatal."
His comments are backed by Clipper Logistics Group, which took part in a trial in March, supported by road safety charity Brake, to ascertain how effective energy drinks are in helping to reduce driver fatigue.
As part of the trial, energy drink firm Boost placed its drinks, free of charge, in the cabs of Clipper trucks that work out of the Brighouse, West Yorkshire, depot. A spokeswoman for Clipper says: "Energy drinks can be helpful for drivers as a quick-fix to get them to a safe stopping place, but are not to be relied on."
Official government advice is to drink a caffeine-based beverage if you're tired. ItsThinkl Road Safety campaign advises drivers that if they start to feel drowsy, they should: "Find a safe place to stop and drink two cups of coffee or a high-caffeine drink and rest for 10 to 15 minutes to allow time for the caffeine to kick in."
The only real cure for tiredness is "proper sleep',' and a caffeine drink and a 20-minute nap is only a short-term answer.