Driving drowsy contributes to about 1,500 deaths each year on America's roads, the Federal Highway Administration
reports. Only the tip of the driver fatigue iceberg, it also shows up
in "100,000 police-reported highway crashes." Can you avoid driving
drowsy? Sure! Five fatigue management tips put you on the road to
arriving alive.
1. Take a break every 100 miles
The AAA Foundation warns that driver fatigue can overcome you even when you feel rested. Taking a break every 100 miles, or every two hours, breaks up the monotony of watching the white lines whizz by and become a blur.
2. Avoid driving during the three deadly times
There are some times when driver fatigue is more likely to lead to accidents than at other times during the day or night. Fleet Safe identifies the hours between midnight and 2 a.m., 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. as the dangerous zones. Avoid driving during these hours.
3. Drink strong coffee and then nap
It may sound counter-intuitive, and Fleet Safe experts are the first to acknowledge that you should not do this "more than once in a single journey," but there is the possibility of employing two cups of coffee with an immediate 15-minute nap as a fatigue management tool. If you sleep longer than the 15 minutes, all bets are off and you are likely worse off than before.
4. Undergo bright light exposure
In light therapy, the patient spends some time sitting near a light therapy box. It mimics the presence of daylight. NHTSA explains that you can "overcome circadian phase disruption," which is a fancy way of saying sleepiness brought on by jet lag or shift work, with light box exposure. If you encounter travel or work related fatigue, driving after light therapy can be helpful as a fatigue management tool.
5. Don't believe the old wives' tales
You cannot beat driver fatigue by changing your radio station to the heavy metal DJ and blasting the Scorpions at maximum decibels in your car. SafeNY also warns that rolling down your windows or having the air conditioner set to ice cold and going full blast will not prevent you from driving drowsy in the long run.
Start out your drive with a good night's rest. That said, do not risk your life and the lives of other drivers. When you cannot beat driver fatigue, it is time to pull over and take a nap.
1. Take a break every 100 miles
The AAA Foundation warns that driver fatigue can overcome you even when you feel rested. Taking a break every 100 miles, or every two hours, breaks up the monotony of watching the white lines whizz by and become a blur.
2. Avoid driving during the three deadly times
There are some times when driver fatigue is more likely to lead to accidents than at other times during the day or night. Fleet Safe identifies the hours between midnight and 2 a.m., 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. as the dangerous zones. Avoid driving during these hours.
3. Drink strong coffee and then nap
It may sound counter-intuitive, and Fleet Safe experts are the first to acknowledge that you should not do this "more than once in a single journey," but there is the possibility of employing two cups of coffee with an immediate 15-minute nap as a fatigue management tool. If you sleep longer than the 15 minutes, all bets are off and you are likely worse off than before.
4. Undergo bright light exposure
In light therapy, the patient spends some time sitting near a light therapy box. It mimics the presence of daylight. NHTSA explains that you can "overcome circadian phase disruption," which is a fancy way of saying sleepiness brought on by jet lag or shift work, with light box exposure. If you encounter travel or work related fatigue, driving after light therapy can be helpful as a fatigue management tool.
5. Don't believe the old wives' tales
You cannot beat driver fatigue by changing your radio station to the heavy metal DJ and blasting the Scorpions at maximum decibels in your car. SafeNY also warns that rolling down your windows or having the air conditioner set to ice cold and going full blast will not prevent you from driving drowsy in the long run.
Start out your drive with a good night's rest. That said, do not risk your life and the lives of other drivers. When you cannot beat driver fatigue, it is time to pull over and take a nap.
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