7 tips to help drivers stay awake when driving at night
Driving at night, especially on long journeys, can easily make the driver tired and sleepy, increasing the risk of accidents. Therefore, before each trip, the driver should know how to stay alert when behind the wheel of a car.
Driving at night is considered a challenge not only for “new drivers” but also for “old drivers” with many years of experience, because the body easily falls into a state of fatigue and drowsiness. According to statistics from the National Traffic Safety Committee, the number of accidents occurring at night, from 6 pm to 6 am the next morning, is often 2-3 times higher than during the day. Meanwhile, according to the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), up to 40-50% of traffic accidents in the US occur at night.
Falling asleep while driving can easily lead to accidents. |
The cause of car accidents at night is partly due to the driver's fatigue and drowsiness. Therefore, to ensure the safety of yourself and those around you, before each trip, drivers should understand the following tips to maintain alertness and prevent drowsiness when sitting behind the wheel of a car:
1. Take a nap before hitting the road
A nap before getting behind the wheel will give you the energy you need to drive long distances. So, if you are the driver on a night trip, you should take a 15-20 minute nap before you leave. |
2. Take vitamins
According to health care experts, Vitamin B and C will contribute to providing energy for the body. Therefore, taking a Vitamin pill after a meal will help you stay awake to drive throughout the journey. Note, you should consult your doctor before using vitamins. Absolutely do not use stimulants or alcohol before driving. |
3. Prepare drinks and snacks
Driving at night can easily make your body tired, lose a lot of energy, and lead to drowsiness. Therefore, before you leave, you should prepare some drinks such as tea, coffee, etc., and snacks in the car and use them when necessary. According to Wikihow, snacks under 100 calories will provide enough nutrients to help your body stay awake while driving. You should not use foods that contain a lot of fat, salt, sugar, etc., which will easily make the driver feel full and tired. |
4. Drink coffee, water, chew gum to stay awake
While driving, when your body feels sleepy, you should drink some coffee or water... This will help you stay awake to continue driving. In addition, when you feel sleepy, you should chew some gum to maintain your body's activity, thereby helping your brain forget the feeling of sleepiness, sleepiness, helping you stay awake to focus on driving. |
5. Listen to music, radio channels…
Most cars today are equipped with entertainment systems that connect to USB, Radio... To avoid drowsiness while driving, drivers should use these features. You should listen to some lively music, turn up the volume of the speakers loud enough to always wake you up. Occasionally switch between entertainment programs, radio channels... This will attract attention, helping you avoid drowsiness. |
6. Roll down the windows occasionally
The cool feeling can help you stay awake and avoid drowsiness. So if you feel tired, open the windows to let the outside air flow into the car for a few minutes. In addition to creating a cooling feeling, it will create a lot of ambient noise to help you stay awake. |
7. Stop the car to rest when feeling sleepy
While driving, if you feel too tired and sleepy, you should not try to continue driving. Instead, you should park the car in a safe place and take a nap to stay awake. You should carry a reflective sign to use in case you have to park on the side of the road. Before continuing on the road, you should open the door, step outside, do some exercises to help your blood circulate and your mind become alert before driving again. |
In addition to the above tips, some methods such as chatting with the person traveling with you, singing along to music from the entertainment system, or some small activities while driving to stimulate mental activity... are also used by experienced drivers to maintain alertness and prevent drowsiness when driving at night. |
