Georgia highways are often congested with trucks. As a driver, you are rightfully cautious around these trucks because, when you get into an accident with them, you are likely to suffer a serious injury. However, not all truck drivers have safe habits when they get behind the wheel of their big rig. Some operators are fueled by caffeine, and that can be dangerous for other drivers on the road.
The U.K. study results
A recent study compiled by researchers in the United Kingdom has found a correlation between high caffeine usage by drivers and truck accidents. Specifically, 27% of drivers who consumed the equivalent of five or more cups per day of caffeine were involved in an accident. This compares to 21% of drivers who consumed less than that amount. As you can see, there seems to be a tie between caffeine and accidents, although the research did not document the exact connection.
Caffeine is not inherently harmful
However, you should not think that drinking caffeine before driving is automatically dangerous. Drivers can benefit from an occasional cup of coffee before they start on the road because it does give them extra energy. However, they should not rely on it exclusively to stay awake behind the wheel. High caffeine usage is often combined with things such as smoking and poor diet. The overall picture makes for a more dangerous driver since poor health can lead to a decrease in their alertness and reaction times when driving.
If you have been injured in a truck accident, you may be entitled to substantial financial compensation. You should contact a motor vehicle accident attorney to learn more about how you can begin the process of filing a claim. Many truck accident lawsuits will settle before trial, and the amounts of the settlements tend to be high given the severity of the injuries that have been suffered.
