Examining the Impact of Energy Drinks on Driving Performance Among Arab Youth in Israel

Abstract

Background The consumption of energy drinks has become increasingly popular over the recent years, often complementing the consumption of alcohol in social events, especially amongst youth and young adults. Energy drinks are perceived as a replacement for coffee and they are often consumed to address tiredness, especially before driving. In addition, energy drinks are perceived as replacement for alcohol among youth whose religion and custom forbid them to consume alcohol, mainly members of the Druze and Muslim communities. Numerous studies have examined alcohol consumption patterns among youth and young adults, but the issue of alcohol-impaired driving and the influence of energy drinks remains relatively neglected. Little is known about how drivers perceive the risks of driving under the influence of energy drinks, and more specifically about the consumption habits of energy drinks among Arab youth. Methods The current study examines different aspects of driving under the influence of energy drinks amongst Arab teenagers. We aim to examine the influence of energy drinks on driving patterns and crash involvement. In addition, we examine whether and to what degree the individual's willingness to consume energy drinks is influenced by socio-demographic factors, attitudes towards the consumption of energy drinks (including associated risks), subjective norms, fatalism and self-control. The study employed a case-control design (N=100) to test the hypothesis that drinking energy drinks will have a behavioral effect in the form of a reduction in driving ability. We make use of a several related tools to examine the participants’ status and capabilities. In the first stage, we ask the participants to fill a questionnaire, used to acquire data on the individual's socio-demographic traits, driving experience, history of accidents and convictions, drinking habits, attitudes towards the consumption of energy drinks, subjective norms, fatalism, and self-control. In the second stage, we use a driving simulator to measure various driving behaviors, aiming to examine specific capacities including disobeying a traffic light, centerline crossing, shoulder crossing, speeding and riding outside of the lane, as well as other cognitive functions. To compare the groups, we use both descriptive statistics and statistical tests for the significance of the different factors. Results The study is currently ongoing. The presentation will include a preliminary analysis and the discussion of the results. Conclusions The study's results will support the efforts of governmental agencies to develop interventions and educational programs aimed at mitigating and preventing the consumption of energy drinks, particularly before driving.