Truck drivers work long hours. They may work for up to 14 hours per day with little rest. Doing this day after day can soon lead to the onset of fatigue. Many try to combat this through drinking caffeinated drinks such as coffee or energy drinks.
However, a recent study shows that caffeine is not as effective as people think when it comes to promoting alertness and alleviating fatigue.
What do the studies indicate about caffeine use and trucking accidents?
Researchers surveyed 11,000 US truck drivers. After excluding those with a moderate caffeine intake, they looked more closely at 3,000 drivers who had either a low caffeine intake (defined as one or fewer cups of coffee per day) and compared those to drivers with a high caffeine intake (described as five or more cups of coffee per day).
They found that high caffeine users were 6% more likely to have crashed in the previous three years than those with low caffeine usage.
Does this mean caffeine cannot help you stay awake?
Caffeine can provide a quick pick me up. Yet, it is no substitute for adequate rest and sleep. Worryingly, around a quarter of all truck drivers surveyed had crashed within the past three years. Thanks to a recent decision by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), this number may rise. Last year, at the bequest of trucking companies, they changed the rules to amplify the number of hours the truckers can work and reduce the rest they get.
Caffeine simply isn’t a substitute for rest and sleep. In large doses, it could even make drivers jittery and agitated — which could contribute even further to accidents.
Take great care when driving close to a tractor-trailer rig. A tired driver could swerve or crash and leave you with severe injuries. If that happens, it’s wise to immediately turn to an experienced attorney for guidance. They can help protect your interests for the future.
