An evaluation of energy drinks containing glucose and caffeine, using the TRL Driving Simulator

This study examined the effect of different levels of caffeine and glucose on driver fatigue. The experiment was conducted using the TRL advanced full-mission driving simulator and provided a range of realistic traffic scenarios. 48 experienced drivers aged between 25 and 50 participated in this study. The sample was split evenly by gender. The study employed a double-blind, placebo controlled, repeated measures design. The three experimental conditions were: (1) Control drink (330ml, taste matched to energy drinks), (2) Level 1 energy drink (330ml, 60g glucose and 25mg caffeine), (3) Level 2 energy drink (330ml, 60g glucose and 40mg caffeine). These drinks were formulated in order to taste and appear the same in all conditions, the only difference being the caffeine and glucose dose. All participants were tested during the post lunch dip where natural alertness is at a low. Overall the results indicate an improvement in driving performance (lane keeping, reaction time and following performance) after drinking the level 2 drink (containing 40 mg caffeine and 60g glucose) compared to the control drink. Some measures also showed a slight improvement with the level 1 drink (containing 25 mg caffeine and 60g glucose). (A)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/1846089514
• Authors:
  • PARKES, A M
  • YORK, I
  • BURTON, S
  • LUKE, T
• Publication Date: 2005-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 46p
• Serial:
  • PUBLISHED PROJECT REPORT PPR059
  • Publisher: TRL
  • ISSN: 0968-4093

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Behavior; Caffeine; Drivers; Driving; Driving simulators; Fatigue (Physiological condition); Motor reactions; Traffic lanes; Vehicle spacing
• Uncontrolled Terms: Glucose; Stimulant (Drug)
• ITRD Terms: 9001: Behaviour; 1772: Driver; 1855: Driving (veh); 2242: Drugs; 2222: Fatigue (human); 2247: Reaction (human); 1680: Simulator (driving); 2827: Traffic lane; 694: Vehicle spacing
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors; I83: Accidents and the Human Factor;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01013157
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• ISBN: 1-84608-951-4
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Dec 22 2005 8:31AM