How To Stay Awake While Driving
- December 11, 2007
- 21,294 Views
Writer
Shannon Hunt
Source
Dr. Alan Hirsch
Source
Robert Sinclair
Voice-Over Artist
Marci Fine
Music
Edison Music Corp
Actor
David Koo
- Show:
- Guide
- Transcript
You don’t change lanes in bed, so you shouldn’t sleep while you’re driving. Here’s how to stay alert.
You Will Need
- Cup of coffee
- Some chewing gum
- Audio book (optional) (optional)
Step 1: Pull over & drink coffee
At the first sign of drowsiness, pull over immediately and drink a cup of coffee.
Step 2: Wait for caffeine to kick in
Don’t get right back on the road; caffeine boosts a driver’s reaction times, but it takes 30 minutes to kick in. Instead, park someplace safe, lock your doors, and take a quick half-hour nap.
Step 3: Roll down windows
When you do get going again, roll down your windows. If it’s cold outside, all the better — it’s harder to nod off when you’re uncomfortable. And don’t crank the heat —the warm air can lull you to sleep.
Stay three car lengths behind the car ahead of you; this will give you some room for error if you do happen to doze off for a second.
Step 4: Sit up straight & move eyes
While you drive, sit up straight and keep your eyes moving. Hunching forward decreases the amount of oxygen that can fit in the lungs, and staring at a fixed distance slows down brain activity.
Step 5: Chew gum
Choose spearmint or peppermint gum — its minty scent stimulates the vagus nerve, providing a jolt to the nervous system.
Step 6: Play games with yourself
Play road games — with yourself! I Spy, which forces you to notice your surroundings, and the License Plate Game, which makes you focus on small letters and numbers, boost mental functioning and reduce eye fatigue.
Step 7: Sing along
Sing along to your favorite CDs. It switches up your breathing patterns, boosts circulation, floods oxygen to the brain, and — if you like the song — increases feel-good endorphins.
If you’re not a fan of your own voice, listen to audio books instead. A study found they make drivers more alert than just listening to music.
Step 8: Walk Around
If all else fails, find a safe spot to get out of the car and walk around. Moving your body revs up circulation and brain activity, which shakes off fatigue. Who knows? You may already be where you’re going.
Thirty-seven percent of drivers admit falling asleep at least once behind the wheel.
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Comments (12)
I loved that he turned out to be a pizza delivery guy. also loved the mess in the backseat.
over 4 years ago by lindarags
There are some good suggestions - but I think the ";three car-length"; tip is erroneous and dangerous. The current recommendation is to stay at least THREE SECONDS behind the vehicle ahead. At 60 mph (88 feet per second), that's at least 250 feet; three car lengths is only about 50 feet! If you DO ";happen to doze off for a second";, you'll have travelled four or five car lengths.
If you're driving at night - and tired - like this guy is, allow even more time to react!
When the vehicle ahead passes an object like a signpost or tree, you should be able to count ";a thousand and one, a thousand and two, a thousand and three"; before YOU pass the object.
And taking a half-hour nap is probably a bad idea. Experts suggest that short ";power naps"; are better; you don't go too far ";under"; that way. I find that just relaxing to the point of dozing off is far more energizing . Going fully asleep for 30 minutes makes it really difficult to fully waken and be alert enough to drive safely.
Stop every so often; power-nap; get out and walk around for a minute or so.
over 4 years ago by nelsondewey
This actually works. I was just driving back from a day of skiing on 3 hours of sleep and was falling asleep. I ate a piece of spearmint gum and felt a boost in energy almost immediately.
over 4 years ago by sanjay
But what if I'm on a moped and get sleepy. Then what?!!?!?
over 3 years ago by Samo
my friend is really jealous now &; she wants you to send her a pizza to ! =]
i shall slap her !
over 3 years ago by anidapea55
I didnt know coffe took took that long to kick in.
over 4 years ago by timwtravel
I appreciate this video and will share it with my friends. Thanks for the tips. Cecelia
over 2 years ago by celiebugpro
hey i reckon he was sexy
and does he have a number avaiable so he can teach me the rules and deliever a pizza to me personaly ;)
.xo
over 3 years ago by anidapea55
good tips
over 3 years ago by Jeff_Ingram
Another pick-me-up that my dad and I use to stay awake is a Chinese salted plum.
over 3 years ago by echoi
Where do you get Chinese salted plums besides China?
over 2 years ago by Nathan_Whorton
The voice sounds like the voice of Janeen Hayward.
about 1 year ago by Grant21
great info. specially during these holidays vacation and events. try listening to reggae music from your favorite reggae artist like bob marley &; or burning spear.
over 2 years ago by cmemove
One of the best ways: Drink 3 glasses of water and don't use the restroom until you reach your destination.
about 1 year ago by Zeeshan_Ali_Idrees
If you are sleepy and drive, you are an idiot.....
about 1 year ago by Sam_Yau
im sorry for that my friend found you rude thats all
over 3 years ago by anidapea55
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