Drowsy driving causes accidents every year and can be a big concern if you do a lot of driving. Especially if you’re a long-haul trucker and expected to be on the road for hours at a time. It’s best to plan your trip in advance and plan to leave early enough that you aren’t driving late into the night. Coffee can help wake you up if the road is getting repetitive and you find yourself getting sleepy. Plan to take frequent breaks. And when all else fails, pull over to a safe spot and nap or check into a hotel. Even if it makes you late for an appointment, driving drowsy is never worth the dangers it can cause if you were to get into an accident.
Drowsy Driving: The Dangers and How to Prevent Accidents
Plan Your Trip in Advance
The best way to prevent drowsy driving is to plan out your trip in advance and get a good night’s rest the night before. If you are traveling a long distance, plan to start early so that you won’t have to be driving late into the night. It can be especially difficult to keep yourself alert when it’s dark and there are fewer cars on the road. You can also plan to make a few stops along the way to give yourself a break. And of course, bring along some snacks and drinks.
Coffee
Coffee can be a great way to wake up if you find yourself drowsy driving. If you just need a little caffeine boost, grab a cup of coffee and see if that helps you. It can also help to keep snacks in the car to eat while you drive to keep yourself entertained. Play exciting music or listen to a book on tape to keep your mind from wandering.
Take Breaks
Another good way to prevent drowsy driving is to plan to take frequent breaks. Get out of the car every hour or two hours and stretch your legs. If you do a few exercises like jumping jacks you can really get your blood flowing and help wake your system up. You can even do some
exercises like booty clenches or ab clenches while you’re driving. Just make sure you’re still paying attention to the road. If you have another person riding with you, switch off every now and then so you each get breaks.
When in Doubt, Don’t
Finally, if you find yourself drowsy driving and you’ve tried everything but just can’t seem to stay awake, pull over. It’s not worth getting into a wreck over. It’s better to pull off someplace safe or check into a hotel to get a quick nap or a night’s rest. You’ll feel fresher afterward and hopefully can complete your trip without having to drive sleepy any longer. If you ever feel like you’re in danger of nodding off behind the wheel, stop immediately.
Drowsy driving contributes to crashes every year because you are much more likely to get into an
accident if you’ve had very little sleep. Your reaction times are slower, your decision-making abilities are weaker, and you could even nod off while driving. Try to plan out long road trips in advance so you can prepare for them by getting plenty of sleep. If you feel yourself getting sleepy behind the wheel, grab a coffee or snack. Take frequent breaks and switch off with another driver if possible. If all else fails and you simply can’t keep yourself awake, pull over and take a rest. Nothing is worth risking getting into an accident, so it’s best to just pull over and give yourself a chance to recharge.
