![]() ![]() This leads to a decrease in arousal and alertness and possibly a failure to notice errors and react to sudden changes in traffic (Gimeno et al. Drivers rely less on feedback from the environment which leads to a reduction of effort to perform the driving task. Situations of mental underload may lead to the driving task become automated. How these and other factors play a role in highway driving is described in several concepts such as “passive task-related-fatigue”, “highway hypnosis”, or “driving without attention mode”. Second, time-of-task effects, i.e., increased time spent behind the wheel, progressively impair driving performance, and may lead to an increase in accident risk (Connor et al. While safe handling of a vehicle requires sustained attention, monotony leads to the opposite: Arousal levels decline and are replaced by inattention and sleepiness resulting in driving impairment (Thiffault and Bergeron 2003). First, highway driving is associated with monotony: The driving environment is relatively uneventful, predictable, and repetitive. Highway driving involves two important factors that can lead to driver sleepiness. Studies estimate that sleepiness accounts for 15–23% of all motor vehicle accidents on highways (Horne and Reyner 1995 Maycock 1996). A highway is an example of a monotonous driving environment that can increase the likelihood of accidents (Stutts et al. Causal factors of driver sleepiness include sleep restriction, sleep disorders, and circadian factors, but also driving-related factors such as a monotonous environment or low traffic density may contribute to driver sleepiness. 2005 National Sleep Foundation 2002 Van Laar et al. In several studies, 14.5% to 20% of drivers reported falling asleep while driving (Beirness et al. Sleepiness and fatigue can compromise the ability to drive a car. Red Bull® Energy Drink significantly improves driving performance and reduces driver sleepiness during prolonged highway driving. Relative to uninterrupted driving, Red Bull® Energy Drink significantly improved each parameter. Subjective sleepiness was significantly decreased during both the 3rd and 4th hour of driving after Red Bull® Energy Drink ( p < 0.001 and p < 0.009, respectively). Red Bull® Energy Drink significantly reduced the standard deviation of speed ( p < 0.004), improved subjective driving quality ( p < 0.0001), and reduced mental effort to perform the test ( p < 0.024) during the 3rd hour of driving. Red Bull® Energy Drink significantly improved driving relative to placebo: SDLP was significantly reduced during the 3rd ( p < 0.046) and 4th hour of driving ( p < 0.011). No significant differences were observed during the first 2 h of driving. Secondary parameters included SD speed, subjective driving quality, sleepiness, and mental effort to perform the test. Primary parameter was the standard deviation of lateral position (SDLP), i.e., the weaving of the car. A third condition comprised 4 h of uninterrupted driving. After 2 h of highway driving in the STISIM driving simulator, subjects had a 15-min break and consumed Red Bull® Energy Drink (250 ml) or placebo (Red Bull® Energy Drink without the functional ingredients: caffeine, taurine, glucuronolactone, B vitamins (niacin, pantothenic acid, B6, B12), and inositol) before driving for two additional hours. ![]() Twenty-four healthy volunteers participated in this double-blind placebo-controlled crossover study. The purpose of this study was to examine if Red Bull® Energy Drink can counteract sleepiness and driving impairment during prolonged driving. ![]()
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