Loughborough University, Transport Safety Research Group
Self-administered caffeine-nap intervention for driver sleepiness: efficacy for obstructive sleep apnoea patients
Amount awarded
£142,846
Completed
2026
Making roads safer for…
Drivers
Project summary
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) patients are at increased risk of driver sleepiness yet there is a gap in evidence for this specific demographic regarding what they should do if they feel tired when driving.
This project has evaluated the efficacy of a "caffeine-nap" as a countermeasure to driver sleepiness for OSA patients. The outcome is an evidence-based recommendation for caffeine-nap best practice for tired OSA drivers.
Recommendations are targeted to OSA patients (disseminated through OSA charities), physicians and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) and produced in an accessible format, including a short video animation.
The evidence-based intervention sought to understand current in-vehicle nap practice, evaluate its efficacy for OSA patients and produce targeted guidance for caffeine-nap best practice for sleepy OSA drivers.
Caffeine Nap advice for obstructive sleep apnoea patients
Caffeine Nap advice for general public