Drowsy Driving – Stay Alert and Stay Alive
We have all heard the term falling asleep at the wheel, and a long trip on a boring stretch of highway can easily cause driver fatigue. It is especially important to include break times in planning a road trip to ensure that you arrive at your destination safely. Falling asleep or zoning out behind the wheel can be even more dangerous than driving while impaired, as your reaction time is zero.
Pulling over and stopping in a designated rest area every two hours to stretch your legs, have a snack or even have a quick nap are important steps to avoiding fatigue. You may have noticed rest stop chains are now encouraging drivers to pull over and take a break. While this makes good business sense for them, it is advice you should take for your own safety.
If you cannot safely pull your vehicle over to take a break, opening the window for fresh air and listening to music may help you stay alert until you can stop. Using your Bluetooth system to call someone may also help you stay focused. If your drive is especially long, it might be wise to stop for the night in a hotel. Never risk your life or someone else’s to “make good time”.
