You may have read our most recent blogabout sleepy driving in Brooklyn and how to prevent it. What if, however, you are already driving and beginning to feel like you are drifting off into sleep? How can you prevent a fall-asleep crash?
Stop Driving
One of the best things to do if you feel like you are falling asleep,is to immediately stop driving. It is best to recognize and face the situation when you notice it,than to ignore it and risk your life. Look for a rest stop or service area that you can stop at and take a short power nap or stay and sleep for the night.
Get some rest
If you think that a short power nap will do the trick, pull over into a safe area and nap for 15-20 minutes. A short nap can help improve your mood and performance. If you feel that a short nap is not enough, find a hotel! Do not try to take a longernap. Long naps (more than 20-30 minutes) may make you feel groggy. At a hotel, you can get a good nights sleep before continuing driving.
Have some caffeine
Caffeine can provide a short term solution if you are feeling sleepy. Since it takeabout 30 minutes for caffeine to kick in, it is not a bad idea to have some caffeine before you take a nap. This way, once you wake up, the caffeine has already kicked in and you should be ready to drive. Caffeine is available in coffee, soft drinks, chewing gum andtablets.
Rumble Strips
Rumble strips were first introduced on the New Jersey Turnpike in 1952 and have proven to be one of the most effective measures in decreasing drowsy driving. They can be a good wake up call for drivers. They prevent drivers from veering off the road. If you hit a rumble strip, you should pull off the road.
Driving is a major responsibility that should not be taken lightly. We hope that you find these crash prevention tips useful for those long driving trips. Happy and safe travels!
Source: www.drowsydriving.org