Caffeine may reduce risk of vehicle crashes

Researchers at the University of Sydney found that drinking coffee or caffeine energy drinks was making long-distance truck drivers safer at the wheel, with data showing commercial drivers who use the products to stay awake were significantly less likely to crash than those who did not, The Daily Telegraph reported. This was even though they drove longer distances and slept less than drivers who didn't consume caffeine in various forms. The study, led by Lisa Sharwood from the University's The George Institute, was conducted between 2008 and 2011 in NSW and West Australia on long-distance drivers whose vehicle mass was at least 12 tonnes. The study compared 530 drivers who crashed their vehicles while on long-distance trips with 517 drivers who had not had a crash in the previous year. It found drivers who consumed caffeine to help them stay awake were 63 per cent less likely to crash than drivers who did not consume the caffeinated substances. The researchers concluded the consumption of caffeinated substances "can significantly protect against crash risk for the long distance commercial driver" and this has "important implications for the improvement of fatigue management strategies for this and similar populations". They said, however, that the benefit was only useful for a short time and having regular breaks, napping and appropriate work schedules were strongly recommended. Ms Sharwood said some drivers were consuming up to 10 energy drinks or a couple of litres of Coke to stay alert but warned using caffeine in such large doses was not a sustainable way of fighting fatigue. "If you're having lots of caffeine then it is going to be unhelpful when you come down and want to try and sleep," Ms Sharwood said. "You need a multi-faceted approach to fatigue management from a health perspective and from an occupational health and safety perspective." She said caffeine was not a replacement for sleep.