Sometimes, drivers become tired because they didn’t get enough sleep the previous night or had to work overtime. Moreover, many drivers simply feel tired in the morning, even if they had a sufficient amount of sleep. Often, people turn to caffeine when they feel this way, hoping that coffee or an energy drink will give them more energy and make them alert. It is important to take a closer look at this issue, in light of the dangers associated with drowsy driving.
Material published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information covers the impact of coffee on driving abilities. The study found that the consumption of one cup of coffee did show benefits when consumed by drivers who were not deprived of sleep. Sleepiness among drivers who participated in the study and consumed caffeinated coffee declined, while their performance behind the wheel improved.
Although coffee may offer certain benefits, it must be pointed out that fatigued drivers should never rely on coffee to stay awake. Sadly, many drivers who have been excessively tired chose to drive because they thought that drinking coffee would counter their fatigue, which led to a serious accident, in some cases. Drivers who are very drowsy or too tired to safely operate their vehicle should stay off of the road and never rely on coffee or a similar alertness strategy. Also, it can be hard for victims of a drowsy driving wreck to prove that the other driver was fatigued, but they deserve justice and resources to recover.