Positive effects of Red Bull® Energy Drink on driving performance during prolonged driving

Mets, Monique A. J.; Ketzer, Sander; Blom, Camilla; van Gerven, Maartje H.; van Willigenburg, Gitta M.; Olivier, Berend; Verster, Joris C. · 2010 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.1007/s00213-010-2078-2

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Summary

This study investigated whether Red Bull® Energy Drink can counteract sleepiness and driving impairment during prolonged highway driving. The research was motivated by the significant risk of accidents caused by driver fatigue, particularly in monotonous environments like highways where sustained attention is required. While public campaigns recommend breaks to mitigate fatigue, the efficacy of short breaks and potential countermeasures like energy drinks needed further evaluation in non-sleep-deprived individuals. The researchers conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover study involving 24 healthy volunteers, of whom 21 were included in the final analysis. Participants completed three conditions: consuming 250 ml of Red Bull® Energy Drink, consuming a placebo (Red Bull® without functional ingredients like caffeine, taurine, and B vitamins), or driving uninterrupted for four hours. All conditions involved a 15-minute break after the first two hours of driving in the STISIM driving simulator, except for the "no break" condition where participants drove continuously for four hours. The primary outcome measure was the standard deviation of lateral position (SDLP), which quantifies lane weaving. Secondary measures included standard deviation of speed, subjective driving quality, mental effort, and sleepiness assessed via the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale. The results demonstrated that Red Bull® Energy Drink significantly improved driving performance compared to both placebo and uninterrupted driving. Specifically, SDLP was significantly reduced during the third and fourth hours of driving after Red Bull® consumption. The drink also significantly reduced speed variability and improved subjective driving quality, with participants reporting less mental effort and feeling more safe, responsible, and relaxed. Subjective sleepiness scores were significantly lower in the Red Bull® condition during the third and fourth hours compared to placebo and uninterrupted driving. Notably, the placebo break alone did not significantly reduce SDLP or sleepiness compared to the uninterrupted driving condition, suggesting that the break itself was insufficient to restore performance without the active intervention. The study concludes that Red Bull® Energy Drink significantly improves driving performance and reduces driver sleepiness during prolonged highway driving in healthy, non-sleep-deprived individuals. The magnitude of improvement in lane stability was comparable to the impairment caused by blood alcohol concentrations above the legal limit in many European countries. The findings suggest that the combination of ingredients in Red Bull®, particularly caffeine, provides a beneficial countermeasure against fatigue-induced driving impairment. However, the authors note limitations, including the use of a simulator rather than on-road testing and the young age of the participants, recommending further research to validate these effects in real-world traffic conditions and older driver populations.

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• sleep deprivation