Truck accidents are not uncommon in the Poughkeepsie area, and perhaps you were a victim. If it’s clear that the truck driver was the one at fault, then you may rest assured that you have a chance at recovering damages. Still, one of the challenges with a personal injury lawsuit is proving the defendant’s negligence.
Long hours, lack of sleep and distractions like phones, food and the radio can all contribute to negligence, and that goes for truckers as well as passenger vehicle drivers. However, one recent study suggests that drinking high amounts of coffee over the long term can raise the risk of a truck crash.
What the study involved
Researchers from the Loughborough University Design School and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute conducted the study, the results of which were published in the journal Safety Science. A total of 3,007 truck drivers participated. They were chosen because they fit into one of the two study groups: those who drink a single cup of coffee a day, and those who drink over five.
These truckers answered a questionnaire, assured that their employers would not be able to read their responses. Asked if they had been in a crash in the previous three years, 21.6% of the low coffee drinkers said yes. Of the high coffee drinkers, though, 27.8% said yes. This second group also admitted to suffering from poor sleep, diet and overall health, excessive smoking, and drinking more alcohol.
What future studies might reveal
No cause and effect relationship can be determined yet. Still, future studies could keep looking into the effect of caffeine on truckers. For example, researchers could focus on where the “tipping point” is with caffeine consumption and unhealthy behavior.