According to statistics, 25% of road accidents occur due to driver fatigue and drowsiness. Such a physiological state is especially dangerous during long or night trips: after 4 hours of continuous driving, the driver's reaction decreases by half, after 8 hours - by 6 times. Therefore, it is important not to miss the symptoms when you start falling asleep at the wheel.
How to recognize a sleepy state?
There are critical markers that 100% indicate the readiness of your brain to fall asleep. How not to fall asleep while driving and what to pay attention to when you feel an irresistible desire to fall asleep here and now:
- The eyelids have become heavier, the blinking of the eyes is noticeable (in a normal state, a person does not feel when he blinks), irritation in the eyes (as if sand has been poured).
- You yawn more and more often, your hands have become heavier, you start to squirm in the seat, you involuntarily let go of the gas pedal.
- You don't remember what the last road sign was. "Running columns" appeared, the "movement" of road signs and oncoming cars became slow or intermittent.
- You cannot concentrate - it will not be easy to mentally perform simple arithmetic operations, what is said on the radio is not completely clear.
As soon as you realized that your condition is getting worse, stop urgently to rest, do simple physical exercises, wash yourself with cool water or wipe your face with a wet towel or napkin.
It is also worth understanding that your condition may be affected by factors that took place on the eve of the trip:
- physical fatigue;
- prolonged lack of sleep or sleep disorder;
- taking some medicines;
- respiratory diseases.
The risk group also includes those who get behind the wheel after night shifts or too long working hours.
Tips on how not to fall asleep behind the wheel and stay alert
Experienced drivers know how not to fall asleep behind the wheel of a car and what will help you stay alert on the road. First of all, avoiding the negative consequences of drowsiness helps:
- active communication with the passenger and his ability to monitor the driver's condition;
- loud energetic music in the cabin and your own singing, which makes the lungs work more actively - more oxygen enters the blood, the body "wakes up".
If possible, plan the route so as not to drive at night. However, if the trip cannot be rescheduled, it is best to contact the company Payless, where car rental with a driver is available.
So, how can a driver maintain attentiveness and concentration and how not to fall asleep behind the wheel - 6 working tips from experienced drivers:
- Get a good night's sleep before the trip - at least 7 hours in a row.
- Keep the interior cool - it invigorates.
- Do not neglect electronic assistants in controlling driver fatigue: a regular timer of continuous car movement, usually set for 2-3 hours, a system that monitors the speed of the car's movement and deflection within its lane.
- Change the speed of movement - changing the surrounding situation activates the brain.
- Drink tonic or energy soft drinks, snack on something crunchy - apples, nuts, crackers, snacks.
- Take off your shoes and socks, activate the acupuncture points on the soles of your feet with a small massage. Some people find it helpful to massage the earlobes and eyelids. You can get out of the car and walk barefoot on the grass.
By the way, an interesting study by Swedish physiologists found that the native language lulls you to sleep during a road trip, and learning a foreign language stimulates the brain.
Payless specialists will help you rent a car in Kyiv. We have the largest selection of cars by class and brand. Dnipro car rental operates according to the standards of the American service: the best price, the option of reducing the amount of the deposit, economically advantageous car brands.