by Mo Bruce

Created on: June 24, 2010

It is easy to forget how tiring driving can be, especially on a long trip.  Your attention starts to go, and then your eyes start to get that heavy way.  If this happens then you must act straight away or you will end up falling asleep at the wheel of your car.  Unfortunately, there is no guarantee you will wake up, at least not in this world.

So what should you do to prevent falling asleep at the wheel.  The first thing to do is to plan ahead.  If you know you have a long car journey ahead, then get some rest beforehand.  Try not to have a heavy meal before setting off, and most definitely do not have any alcohol.  Food and drink can make you lethargic and almost guarantee to have you dozing off at the wheel.  Alcohol impairs your judgement; even small amount will do so.

Organise your trips to include at least one rest stop, where you can have a drink of coffee or water, and a biscuit or sandwich.  As stated, don’t eat too much, as your body will happily concentrate on digesting your food, and forget that you need to concentrate on driving.  Keep some sweets on hand to give you a bit of a sugar boost.  A good idea is to put them on the passenger seat beside you, as you don’t want to be scrabbling about in the glove compartment at 70mph.

Prepare and study your route, before you start out.  Getting flustered over where your turn off is can be tiring, and will drain your energy.  Being knowledgeable of your route will also keep you alert, because if you know what landmarks are coming up, you can look out for them.  Treat the landmark spotting like a little game, and you will find yourself less likely to fall asleep at the wheel.

Listen to your radio, or organise some lively music to listen to.  If you start to feel drowsy and can’t pull off for a rest stop, then turn up the music, and sing along.  You should also open a window and let in some fresh air.  There is nothing more guaranteed to send you to sleep than a stuffy car.

Always give yourself enough journey time to allow yourself to take any rest stops you need.  Pushing yourself when you know you need a break is dangerous, so just stop for ten minutes or so.  Make the journey fun and don’t ignore any signs of tiredness, and you will avoid the dangers of falling asleep at the wheel.

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