Tips to stay awake while driving8/11/2023 ![]() Be mindful of food, drink, and medication that can make you sleepy If possible, avoid these timeframes while driving and stick to when your energy is the highest. In the middle of the night, many people are used to sleeping so it can be somewhat unnatural and dangerous to drive during this time. Avoid driving during peak drowsy driving hoursĪccording to NHTSA, drowsy driving car crashes happen at two peak times:ĭuring these periods, it’s normal to have your energy dip. Better posture can help boost your energy levels, helping you stay alert and awake. Improve your posture, so your spine is straight, and keep both hands firmly on the wheel. If you want to figure out how to stay awake when driving, perk up and sit tall. If you’re drowsy, you may be slouching and holding onto the steering wheel in a sloppy fashion. Think of apples, bananas, almonds, peanuts, and jerky to help you feel nourished. But you may be better off eating whole foods like vegetables, fruit, and lean protein. When you’re sleepy, grabbing that candy bar can seem attractive to get that loaded sugar rush. In fact, exercise may help boost your body temperature and help wake you up a bit. ![]() Stretch your arms and legs, roll your neck, do some push-ups, squats, and jumping jacks. If you’re tired, make a pit stop to get your body moving. Get your body movingĭriving a lot can also mean staying in the same position for an extended period of time. Feeling the fresh air on your face may wake you up and the music can help pump you up. Put your windows down and turn your music up. One way to boost your energy is to engage the senses. That’s where you need to figure out how to stay awake on long drives. It can seem like one long stretch with little to no variety, which can add to the fatigue. Put your windows down, turn your music upĭriving, especially on road trips, can be monotonous depending on the road (looking at you Interstate 5 from LA to SF). The RoadTripExpert recommends taking a 15-minute break for every two hours of driving. But just like taking breaks is good for you throughout the workday, making frequent pit stops is also good for you when you’re drowsy. When you’re trying to go somewhere, and extremely tired, it can feel counterproductive to take frequent pit stops. See if they can go from passenger to driver while you go from driver to passenger so you can get a little shut-eye. If you’re not riding solo and have company in the car with you that is of driving age and can legally drive, see about switching with them for a while. Twenty minutes is a good amount of time for a little energy boost without too much grogginess upon waking. Consider pulling over in a safe and appropriate place like a rest area (not the shoulder!) for a power nap of 20 minutes. But sometimes, your efforts are futile, and it’s best to give in to a little rest. If you’re driving while tired, you want to figure out how to stay awake when driving. The fresh mintiness of peppermint can be invigorating, and the sweet spiciness of ginger can boost alertness. If you can’t have caffeine for health or personal reasons, consider drinking specific herbal teas like peppermint or ginger tea. In fact, one study showed that one cup of coffee had a positive impact on driving performance while fatigued. If you’re okay handling caffeine, you might consider grabbing some coffee, a Red Bull, tea, or another caffeinated beverage of your choice. So to help with your alertness levels, it’s time to hydrate! Some research shows that hydrating with water can improve alertness levels. Drink some waterĭid you know that the body is up to 60% water, and your brain that helps you think and focus is 73% water? It’s true, according to data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Here’s how to stay awake while driving and reduce your risk of accidents. ![]() These incidents can be prevented by taking some strategic steps. Though sleepy driving doesn’t always lead to death, NHTSA data from 2017 reports that 91,000 crashes that were reported to police involved driving while drowsy. On top of that, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported 697 fatalities as of 2019 from crashes where driving drowsy was the primary culprit. In fact, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) notes that driving while sleep-deprived can be just as dangerous as driving drunk or intoxicated. Driving while drowsy can be extremely dangerous. You might attempt to push through, but you should reconsider. Fatigue washes over you, and you feel how difficult it is to keep your eyes open and your mind focused as you try not to doze off. You’re driving down the road, and your eyelids feel heavy.
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