Mild hypohydration increases the frequency of driver errors
during a prolonged, monotonous driving task
PhillipWatsonac AndrewWhaleab Stephen [Link] Louise [Link] Ronald [Link]
a
School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Leicestershire LE11 3TU, UK
b
Sleep Research Centre, Loughborough University, Leicestershire LE11 3TU, UK
c
Department of Human Physiology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels B-1050, Belgium
Received 13 November 2014, Revised 13 March 2015, Accepted 13 April 2015, Available online 16 April 2015,
Version of Record 15 May 2015.
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of mild hypohydration on performance during a prolonged,
monotonous driving task.
Methods
Eleven healthy males (age 22 ± 4 y) were instructed to consume a volume of fluid in line with published guidelines
(HYD trial) or 25% of this intake (FR trial) in a crossover manner. Participants came to the laboratory the following
morning after an overnight fast. One hour following a standard breakfast, a 120 min driving simulation task began.
Driver errors, including instances of lane drifting or late breaking, EEG and heart rate were recorded throughout
the driving task.
Results
Pre-trial body mass (P = 0.692), urine osmolality (P = 0.838) and serum osmolality (P = 0.574) were the same on
both trials. FR resulted in a 1.1 ± 0.7% reduction in body mass, compared to − 0.1 ± 0.6% in the HYD trial
(P = 0.002). Urine and serum osmolality were both increased following FR (P < 0.05). There was a progressive
increase in the total number of driver errors observed during both the HYD and FR trials, but significantly more
incidents were recorded throughout the FR trial (HYD 47 ± 44, FR 101 ± 84; ES = 0.81; P = 0.006)
Conclusions
The results of the present study suggest that mild hypohydration, produced a significant increase in minor driving
errors during a prolonged, monotonous drive, compared to that observed while performing the same task in a
hydrated condition. The magnitude of decrement reported, was similar to that observed following the ingestion of
an alcoholic beverage resulting in a blood alcohol content of approximately 0.08% (the current UK legal driving
limit), or while sleep deprived.
1. Introduction intake (e.g. access to beverages and/or latrines). Over
time, one, or a combination, of these factors results in
Under ‘normal’ conditions, an individual's total body
the progressive reduction in TBW. The ensuing
water (TBW) fluctuates throughout the day, but overall
hypohydration causes a reduction in the circulating
daily water balance is generally maintained through a
blood volume and an increase in plasma osmolality,
series of interrelated factors which control intake and
which are typically proportional to the magnitude of
output of water. The homeostatic regulation of salt and
decrease in TBW [32]. Populations at particular risk of
water balance normally acts to limit excursions in TBW
hypohydration are the very young, those engaged in
to no more than about 1% per day [24]. Nevertheless,
professions where fluid homeostasis is regularly
there are several routinely encountered situations that
challenged and the elderly. Limited data are available
act to either increase fluid losses (e.g. illness, exposure
on the prevalence of hypohydration, but there is
to heat/humidity, diuretics), or serve to restrict fluid
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