As a society, there has been an increased interest in holistic wellness over recent years. Party fueled by an aging population, partly fueled by advancements in technology, and partly fueled by an increased emphasis on mental health, one topic that seems to be on the radar of many health-conscious individuals is sleep.
Sleep is important because it is your body’s time to recover and recharge. Not getting enough sleep can have detrimental effects on your physical health, immune functioning, cognitive abilities, and mood.
While sleep is vitally important, picking the right time and place to sleep is also crucial. The last place you want to sleep (or feel the need to sleep) is behind the wheel of a running automobile!
Here are some steps you can take to avoid drowsy driving and stay alert while operating a vehicle.
The Need for Sleep
Drowsy driving is a bad idea for many reasons. For starters, driving is a highly dangerous activity. To drive safely, a high degree of concentration is required. While you are drowsy and in need of sleep, it isn’t possible for you to concentrate on the road as hard as you should be, no matter how hard you try (or how much coffee you drink).
While you can trick yourself into believing you are fully alert, the fact of the matter is that when you are sleepy, your guard is down whether you like it or not. Ultimately, the only cure for your predicament of feeling drowsy is extremely obvious—you need to sleep!
While the solution is obvious, figuring out a way to get yourself that much needed shuteye is a more complicated matter. You may be on the way home from work, on the last leg of a multi-day road trip, or on your way to church early Sunday morning. No matter the situation, life doesn’t just stop so you can take a nap. So, what should you do if you have to be somewhere, but also have a sense of overwhelming drowsiness sweeping over you?
How to Prevent Drowsy Driving
The easy answer to the previous question is changing your plans. Whatever you have going on is not worth your own life or the life of anyone on the road. So, if possible, change your plans, reschedule, and find another time to do whatever it is you have to do.
You will likely have a better experience if you are rested and able to dedicate your full energy to the task at hand. In addition to getting greater enjoyment out of your activity, you will also be making the smart move to drive safe and avoid taking on any unnecessary risk while behind the wheel.
What if you can’t reschedule? Again, the answer is obvious. While it may be a large inconvenience, getting a ride from a friend, loved one, or ride share service is always a preferable option to driving drowsily. While this may seem like an unnecessary or “extra” step to be taking for a drive you make regularly, it is the smart and morally responsible thing to do.
What if you’re returning from a road trip and need to get your car home? In a situation like this, it is best practice to take a rest, potentially at a truck stop, rest stop, or parking lot that is not busy. If you need to, getting a hotel room is also another great option.
No matter where you end up stopping, taking a rest is the best thing you can do at a time like this. Just make sure to shut your car off, crack a window for air flow, and get out of the driver’s seat (if you plan to sleep inside your car). As long as you take these steps, you should be good to catch some z’s and get yourself back into the headspace you need to be in to finish your journey.
Get David Get Paid
If you or a loved one was recently in an accident, don’t hesitate in reaching out to injury attorney David Femminineo, today. David and his team have countless years of experience dealing with auto accidents and drowsy drivers. David and his team will relentlessly take on anyone standing between you and your compensation following an accident. Give us a call at 855-65CRASH or visit our website at getdavidgetpaid.com!