![]() This alone might not be too alarming but if on top of this, you start to “nod off” or cannot keep your head up, you should stop driving immediately. You yawn frequently and uncontrollably.If you have one or more of these signs, you should stop driving as soon as possible to get some caffeine or something to make you feel more refreshed and alert: Remember, it’s far better to reach your destination late than not arriving there at all. Knowing when to stop driving is just as important. Knowing how to stay awake while driving is not enough. Grab some coffee and snack at a convenience store on the way. Similar to how chewing some chewing gum while being stressed out can effectively recover your heart rate and blood pressure, preparing some snacks beforehand to munch on the road can distract your brain and make it temporarily forget the drowsiness. Have some before you go, or stop over a convenience store or gas station to sip some coffee and stretch your legs a bit. Studies have found that even just one cup of caffeine can significantly reduce your chances of falling asleep while driving and reduce the likelihood of crashes during long drives. In addition, having passengers in your car will increase your awareness of responsibility, thus will help you to drive more cautiously and safely. In other words, making your brain work will in a way make it forget that it’s sleepy. Casual chatting can ease your sleepiness. This is not enough to distract you from your paying attention to your surroundings and controlling your car, however will require some effort from your brain to keep the conversation going. (Photo Source: seatpress) Have a companionĬasually chatting with your companion works wonders on avoiding falling asleep while driving. Putting on some tunes is a great way to stay stay awake while driving. Find some tunes you’re familiar with that’s not too sad, too heavy or loud which makes you feel lively and uplifted. Studies have found that even a 15 to 30-minute nap can put you into REM mode, which is sufficient to keep you awake, alert and also more relaxed while driving. The best way to stay awake while driving is good preparation, that is having enough sleep the night before a long trip or if this is not possible, try to take a short nap at least before the drive. Night Driving Tips For Ensuring Safety In The Dark.It’s harder to stay awake while driving at night. ![]() If you have to get somewhere, take a cab or Lyft and Uber. You will not be as alert as during the day, thus avoid driving late. How to stay awake while driving Avoid driving at nightĪt night, especially late at night, your body clock automatically makes your whole body and brain go into the “sleep/rest” mode. If you find yourself constantly falling asleep behind the wheels to an abnormal extent, you should consult your doctor to make sure the cause of this condition is not some illness, such as sleep apnea. Like drunk driving, drowsy driving causes impairment to sleepy drivers with regards to eyesight, ability to assess speed and distance, reaction time to sounds, lights and motions, blood pressure and heart rate. More than 40% admitting this has happened at least once since they started to drive. (Photo Source: habbaspilaw)Īccording to the National Sleep Foundation, about 50% of adult drivers in the US admit that they would drive despite feeling sleepy. Drowsy driving causes 6,400 fatal crashes per year in the US alone. Remember that this silly-sounding cause is the culprit of thousands of deaths every year, and don’t underestimate the importance of staying awake while driving. The first step in knowing how to stay awake while driving is actually being aware of the danger associated with drowsy driving. ![]() While drunk driving causes some 11,000 deaths annually in the US, drowsy driving is not far behind with around 6,400 fatal crashes. Studies have found that drowsy driving causes similar impairments to drivers compared to drunk driving. Drowsy driving is as dangerous as drunk driving.(Photo Source: philkotse) Dangers of drowsy driving Read on to pocket the most handy tips for staying awake while driving, including when to stop driving and what to do when you start to feel sleepy behind the wheels. Thus, knowing how to stay awake while driving might be more important than you think.Īvoid falling asleep while driving at night or while driving long distances, which is pretty common, require strategies, preparation and tools. You might previously thought it’s not a big issue, however studies have found that drowsiness is as dangerous as drunk driving. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, each year in the US alone, drowsy driving accounts for some 328,000 crashes, of which about 6,400 are fatal while 109,000 resulted in an injury. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |