Table of contents:
- Signs that you are unable to drive a vehicle
- Fight sleepiness while driving a car or riding a motorcycle
- 1. Drink coffee
- 2. Pull over and take a nap (for car drivers)
- 3. Pull over and stretch (for motorcyclists)
- 4. Do not take drugs and alcohol before or while driving
- 5. Take a break every two hours
- 6. Ask to be accompanied while driving
You may have heard about the dangers of driving a car or riding a motorbike under the influence of alcoholic beverages. Driving while drunk can even get you into a detention cell. However, there is one more thing that is no less dangerous, namely driving when sleepy. This has often been experienced by many people. In extreme cases, drowsiness while driving a car or riding a motorbike can lead to accidents that can lead to death.
Data compiled by the National Sleep Foundation in the United States records that there are about 100,000 accidents caused by drowsy drivers on the road each year. You can avoid the same thing happening to you or your loved ones because of fatigue or drowsiness while driving. Listen carefully to the various tips to fight sleepiness while driving the following car or motorbike.
ALSO READ: Beware of the Dangers of Microsleep, Short Sleeps for a few Seconds
Signs that you are unable to drive a vehicle
Even though you already know the dangers of driving while enduring sleepiness, sometimes you think that the drowsiness can still be endured. Drowsiness can also appear suddenly while you are driving. Or you are in a hurry and finally decide to keep driving even though you are half conscious. It is difficult to tell the difference between sleepiness and tiredness that you can fight against and which is simply unbearable. Usually you only know the difference when you lose consciousness and fall asleep at the wheel for a few seconds. So, pay attention to the various signs that you can no longer continue driving and driving below.
- Your eyelids feel so heavy that you often blink slowly
- Difficulty concentrating
- Bewildered, the mind wanders, or the mind goes blank
- Ignorance, wrong roads, forgetting where you are, and not paying attention to road signs
- Repeated yawning or rubbing your eyes
- Head nodding off
- The vehicle strays off course, grazes the shoulder of the road or other vehicle, is driving at an unreasonable speed (faster or slower), and loses balance (if riding a motorcycle)
ALSO READ: 9 Signs Your Body Needs More Sleep
Fight sleepiness while driving a car or riding a motorcycle
If you have experienced one or more of the signs above, it means that you are beyond the limits of your ability to drive a car or ride a motorbike. Perhaps the first thing you do to get rid of sleep is turn on the radio or music out loud. However, it turns out that this ancient method is not effective against drowsiness while driving. Here are some powerful tips to get rid of sleep while driving a car or driving a motorbike.
1. Drink coffee
If your eyes and body are completely tired, you need caffeine to help maintain awareness. One of the biggest sources of caffeine is coffee. However, coffee takes about half an hour before the effect is felt. In addition, a cup of coffee may not be enough for people who frequently consume coffee every day.
ALSO READ: How many times to drink coffee a day is still considered healthy?
2. Pull over and take a nap (for car drivers)
If you don't feel the effects of coffee, the best way to fight drowsiness is to take a short nap. Pull over and sleep for about 15 minutes. Remember, it's better to spend 15-20 minutes taking a nap than forcing yourself to keep driving with great risks.
3. Pull over and stretch (for motorcyclists)
Usually, a feeling of unbearable drowsiness occurs when you ride a motorcycle on a fairly quiet road in friendly weather. So, immediately pulled over for a moment and got off the motorbike. Stretch your muscles and walk for about 10 minutes. Moving actively can help the mind stay awake.
4. Do not take drugs and alcohol before or while driving
Taking drugs and alcohol can affect your concentration and alertness. Avoid taking hangover medications, anti-cold medications, or other drugs with side effects of drowsiness before or while driving. The reason is, you will feel very sleepy. If you do have to take certain medicines prescribed by your doctor, you should not drive a car or ride a motorbike at all.
5. Take a break every two hours
It is perfectly normal to have drowsiness while driving or riding a motorcycle on a long trip. To prevent this, you should take a break every two hours to stretch your muscles or take a nap. If you are forced to drive continuously without pause, your body and eyes will actually tire quickly and feel heavy. So, even if you are not sleepy or tired, try to keep resting every few hours.
6. Ask to be accompanied while driving
If you are sleep deprived, restless, or extremely tired, avoid driving alone. Especially if the distance is far enough. Invite a friend or family member who can accompany you along the way. That way, you can chat with him if you start to feel sleepy. He can also become a "cop" if you start to lose alertness, are nodding off, or are about to fall asleep. It would be even better if the person accompanying you is willing to take turns driving.
