Britain’s love of coffee may come with a hidden road safety cost

New research from car financing company Carmoola has uncovered the hidden dangers of excessive caffeine consumption on the road – with one in four drivers (25%) admitting it has left them feeling jittery, anxious, or distracted behind the wheel.

Carmoola’s Curbing The Caffeine campaign intends to lift the lid on the UK’s caffeine culture at a time when energy drink sales are surging nationwide – a trend suggesting that more motorists may be turning to high-caffeine options to stay alert on the road.

Around a quarter (22%) of drivers surveyed by Carmoola regularly exceed the recommended daily caffeine limit, putting their focus and alertness on the road at risk.

In partnership with Dr Tim Mercer, GP Partner at TJ & SE Mercer Healthcare Ltd, Carmoola’s research finds that while moderate caffeine intake (up to 300mg) can boost alertness and reaction times.

However, consuming more than 400mg a day – roughly one large cappuccino or two and a half energy drinks – can backfire, causing ‘caffeine toxicity’. This can lead to jitteriness, anxiety, poor concentration, and impaired decision-making.