Several accidents could have been avoided, if the driver was wide-awake. For drivers it is crucial that they always stay alert at all times while driving. Sometimes, however we might feel sleepy or we might have the feeling that we cannot focus properly. For example when we go on a holiday by car, and we must drive longer distances for long hours. Here are some tips, which can help us to regain vigilance.
Stay alert!
Take breaks, eat and stay hydrated! Break up monotony!
Obviously, when we feel tired, we can have a break. If we have a long trip ahead, we should have a break of 20 minutes after every 2-3 hours. Fresh air is always great for our brain, but when taking a break we can do some short exercises as well to refresh our body as well. Short walks and stretching will boost the blood circulation in our body and make us feel refreshed. If we find it difficult to stay alert, we should take breaks after each hour. Another tip for us to stay fresh is to avoid heavy dishes before we drive. If we eat a lot or some greasy or sugary food our blood may rush to our stomach to help digestion and thus our brain gets less blood, making us sleepy. So if we know we have to drive, we should take something light, such as a salad, or smaller portions at each break we take.
a salad, or smaller portions at each break
Fatigue can be a cause of dehydration, so we should always pay attention to get enough water, or other drinks. We can drink a bottle of water, a cup of coffee or green tea to speed up our metabolism. Some people say protein shakes are also excellent drinks to keep us awake. When we are driving we can decrease the chance of getting tired by setting a lower temperature in the vehicle, or we can just simply wind down the windows. Radio can also help us! Change the station to get some variety, but don’t listen to salignnoneg music. We might as well sing along with the radio. Having a company is always a good thing, since we can drive in shifts, moreover we can keep each other awake with small chats. Chewing a gum can also be helpful.
night drive
Of course nothing can substitute a healthy sleep of 7-8 hours. Before we go on a longer trip, we should try to have a good sleep and we will have less trouble with staying alert.