According to the AAA Traffic Safety Foundation, in the United States alone, drowsy driving causes about 328,000 crashes each year, of which about 6,400 are fatal and 109,000 result in injuries. You may have previously thought it wasn’t a big deal, but studies have found that drowsiness is just as dangerous as drunk driving. Therefore, knowing how to stay awake while driving may be more important than you think.
How do you stay awake on long drives or at night? Avoid falling asleep while driving at night or on long drives, which are common and require strategy, preparation, and tools. Read on for the most handy tips for staying awake while driving, including when to stop driving and what to do when you start to feel sleepy.
Long-distance or night-time driving guide: the hazards of drowsy driving
The study found that lethargic driving caused similar injuries to drivers compared to drunk driving. While drunk driving kills about 11,000 people each year in the United States, lethargic driving is not far behind, with about 6,400 fatal crashes.
The first step in understanding how to stay awake while driving is actually being aware of the dangers associated with lethargic driving. Remember that this stupid-sounding reason is the culprit responsible for thousands of deaths every year, and don’t underestimate the importance of staying awake while driving.
According to the National Sleep Foundation, about 50% of adult drivers in the United States admit to driving despite feeling sleepy. More than 40% admit that this has happened at least once since they started driving. It’s more common than you think.
Like drunk driving, lethargic driving impairs a drowsy driver’s eyesight, ability to assess speed and distance, reaction time to sounds, lights, and movements, blood pressure, and heart rate.
If you find yourself often falling asleep behind the wheel in an abnormal situation, you should consult your doctor to make sure that the cause of this condition is not some kind of condition, such as sleep apnea.
How to stay awake while driving
Avoid driving at night
At night, especially late at night, your body clock automatically puts your entire body and brain into “sleep/rest” mode. You won’t be as alert as you would be during the day, so avoid being late. If you have to go somewhere, take a taxi or Lyft and Uber.
Take a nap before driving
The best way to stay awake while driving is to be well prepared, i.e., get enough sleep the night before a long trip and, if that’s not possible, at least take a nap before driving.
Studies have found that even a 15- to 30-minute nap can put you into REM mode, which is enough to keep you awake, alert, and relaxed while driving.
Put on some music
How do you stay awake on long drives or at night? This method is simple but effective. Find some tunes that are familiar to you, not too sad, too heavy, or too loud, to make you feel lively and uplifted.
Long-distance or night driving guide: Have a companion
Casually chatting with your companions can avoid falling asleep while driving. It’s not enough to distract you from your surroundings and controlling the car, but it will take some effort on your brain to keep the conversation going.
In other words, let your brain somehow make it forget that it’s sleepy. In addition, having passengers in the car will increase your sense of responsibility, which will help you drive more carefully and safely.
Drink some caffeine
Studies have found that even just one cup of caffeine significantly reduces the chances of falling asleep while driving and reduces the likelihood of a crash while driving long distances. Have a drink before you go, or stop by a convenience store or gas station for a coffee and stretch your legs.
Grab a snack
In the same way that chewing gum during stressful times can be effective in restoring heart rate and blood pressure, preparing some snacks ahead of time and chewing on the road can distract your brain and make it forget about drowsiness for a while.
When to stop driving
It’s not enough to know how to stay awake while driving. Knowing when to stop driving is equally important. Keep in mind that it’s much better to be late than not to arrive at all.
If you have one or more of these signs, you should stop driving as soon as possible to get some caffeine or something else that will make you feel more refreshed and alert:
- You often yawn uncontrollably. This alone may not be too worrying, but if in addition to that, you start to “doze off” or can’t look up, you should stop driving immediately.
- Your eyelids feel heavy and you have to make an effort to open them.
- You can’t focus on what’s happening in front of you and around you. Your mind wanders all the time, or you have no memory of the past few miles of driving.
- You drive irregularly. You miss road signs and turns, you suddenly realize you’re driving through rumbling or you suddenly find yourself in the wrong lane.
Guide to long-distance or night driving: What to do when you feel sleepy behind the wheel
If you have any of the above symptoms, do not continue driving. Stop at the nearest station or gas station to wash your face, grab some coffee or a refreshing cold drink, and grab a snack along the way.
Most importantly, get some fresh air outside and stretch your legs, or better yet, sprint. Some physical activity increases blood flow to the brain, making you feel more awake and refreshed.
If you can, park your car in a quiet place and take a 30-minute nap. This can be a lifesaver.
How do you stay awake on long drives or at night? The key takeaway here is that lethargic driving is no more dangerous than drunk driving, and the consequences of drunk driving are terrible. Take these handy tips on how to stay awake, pull over, and take breaks along the way while driving.
If you’re severely sleep-deprived and don’t think you should drive on a given day, it’s a good idea to consider other modes of transportation like buses, taxis, Lyft, and Uber, or work from home that day.
