When learning to drive you learn the rules and regulations of the road, and of course master the skills necessary to drive a car. However one thing that you don’t learn is how to stay alert on long distance journeys.
Whether you have a job that requires you to commute all over the country, or you take the occasional road trip to visit friends and family, all drivers will have to overcome fatigue during driving at some point in their lives. So Book My Theory Test Online have come up with 5 top tips to help you stay safe and alert.
1. Regular Breaks
Taking a short break every few hours will give you a chance to go to the toilet, get some fresh air and stretch your legs. It’s hard to overstate the importance of regular breaks on a long journey for a driver, so leave enough time in your journey to allow for them.
2. Soundtrack Your Journey
The radio can get incredibly repetitive if you’re listening to it for hours on end, so put yourself in control of the music and choose a good CD collection for your car. Alternatively why not invest in an audiobook to expand your mind and stay entertained on the road?
3. Eat, But Eat Well
Keeping your energy levels up is a great way to stay alert whilst driving, so stock up on snacks when you take a break. Energy drinks and caffeine are perfect hydration to stimulate the mind, whilst slow release foods such as flapjack will help you go the distance. Avoid highly sugary snacks such as chocolate, as they only give you a brief buzz that won’t last for long.
4. Open the Window
A hot stuffy car is a prime environment for feeling dozy. Even if it’s a freezing cold day, try to open the window for a while if you’re starting to feel yourself drowsing off a little. The cold fresh air should help to revive you, but then try to find a place to stop as soon as possible if you reach this point.
5. Take a Nap
If you’re really struggling to stay awake at the wheel, a power nap will do you the world of good. When fatigue kicks in, the above tips can only do so much to help you stay awake. A nap can leave you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated for the journey ahead. Fatigue causes 20% of road accidents, so don’t be embarrassed to get a little kip at the service station – it could save your life.
Of course, there are obvious ways that you can avoid fatigue when driving, particularly by avoiding journeys during the night when your body clock most craves sleep. But when you have no choice but to take those long trips, make every effort to tackle fatigue in the early stages. Hopefully, these top tips should keep you safe and alert at all times.
(Image source: Wikimedia)
Tags: Driving Safety, Driving Tips
