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Drivers that rely on high-caffeine 'energy drinks' to keep them going behind the wheel have been warned they could experience serious lapses in concentration and slower reaction times as the effects of the drink wears off.

The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) cites an alert issued by the US National Safety Commission for those driving under caffeine intoxication, similar to warnings associated with drinking alcohol and driving. It says  that excessive caffeine consumption can cause similar symptoms to alcohol intoxication, including: irritability, nervousness, irregular or rapid heartbeat, muscle twitching and rambling speech.

Seb Goldin, IAM managing director, says: "Energy drinks are good as a quick fix, but they're no substitute for regular breaks. Tiredness affects reaction times and concentration and if you fall asleep at the wheel, the results are nearly always fatal." His comments are backed by Clipper Logistics Group, which took part in a trial in March, supported by road safety charity Brake, to see how effective energy drinks are in reducing driver fatigue.

As part of the trial, energy drink firm Boost placed  its drinks, free of charge, in the cabs of Clipper trucks that operate from the firm's Brighouse, West Yorkshire, depot. A spokeswoman for Clipper says: "Energy drinks can be helpful for drivers as a quick fix to get them to a safe stopping place, but are not to be relied on and should always be consumed responsibly."

However the warning from IAM appears to contradict official government advice. Its Think! Road Safety campaign advises drivers that if they start to feel sleepy, they should "find a safe place to stop and drink two cups of coffee or a high-caffeine drink and have a rest for 10 to 15 minutes to allow time for the caffeine to kick in". But it does advise that the only real cure for sleepiness is "proper sleep and a caffeine drink and a 20-minute nap is a short-term solution that will only allow drivers to keep driving for a short time".