Unhealthy eating habits are associated with increased fatigue, a significant factor that contributes to crash risks, according to researchers in a study published in the journal Occupational & Environmental Medicine.
Each year, approximately 1.35 million people lose their lives in road traffic accidents, with professional drivers facing heightened risks due to prolonged hours behind the wheel.
Impact of Lifestyle on Road Safety
Researchers point out various contributing elements to road safety, including gender, age, experience, driving skills, and attitudes. However, lifestyle factors, especially in long-distance driving where sleep deprivation and poor dietary choices are common, may also play a critical role.
Despite this, research examining the influence of dietary habits on the driving behavior of professional truck drivers is limited. To address this gap, the researchers analyzed the connection between diet, fatigue, and driving behavior among 389 male truck drivers from a transport company in Suzhou, China.
The sample consisted primarily of drivers aged 31 to 60, with 6 to 10 years of experience, logging 50,000 to 100,000 km annually. Participants completed a Food Frequency Questionnaire to specify their intake of 25 food items over the past year, alongside completing assessments measuring their physical and mental fatigue and attitudes towards driving behaviors.
Diet and Driving Behavior Correlation
Dietary patterns were classified into categories: vegetable-rich, staple foods (high in carbohydrates, unrefined grains, and dairy), animal proteins (fish and poultry), and snacks (fried foods, desserts, sugary drinks). Results revealed that vegetable-rich and staple food diets correlated with safer driving behaviors, while diets featuring animal proteins and snacks were linked to increased errors and unsafe driving practices.
Fatigue was found to mediate the relationship between dietary patterns and driving behavior: diets rich in vegetables and staples were associated with reduced fatigue, while those high in animal proteins and snacks were linked to increased fatigue. While this observational study suggests correlations rather than causation, it underscores the significance of dietary choices in influencing driving safety among professional truck drivers.
The research concludes that prudent dietary habits, particularly those rich in vegetables, are linked to positive driving behavior, while unhealthy eating patterns characterized by high fat and sugar intake predict dangerous driving behaviors.
Reference: “Effects of dietary patterns on driving behaviors among professional truck drivers: the mediating effect of fatigue” by Yan Ge et al., 16 June 2021, Occupational & Environmental Medicine. DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2020-107206.
Funding: National Key Research and Development Plan of China; National Natural Science Foundation of China.
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