Car Journey: 5 Tips To Avoid Drowsiness While Driving.

During this period of vacation departures, we must not underestimate the dangers of the road, especially the risk of getting drowsy while driving. Driver fatigue is responsible for 30% of fatal accidents on highways. For those who have planned a long car journey, here are 5 tips to avoid drowsiness while driving.

Beware of certain medications.

Drowsiness while driving is often underestimated, especially since this accident factor is generally associated with other elements such as distraction and the consumption of alcohol or medication.

The first of the 5 tips to limit the risk of experiencing "driver's fatigue" is to avoid or limit certain medications before a car trip. Some over-the-counter medications like antihistamines can make you drowsy, which is why it is important to always check for an orange or red pictogram on the box.

If you are on long-term treatment, such as for high blood pressure, it may be useful to consult your doctor before your departure so that they can adjust the dosage.

2- Don't eat too much before departure.

Another of the 5 tips to avoid drowsiness while driving is to adopt a healthy lifestyle before hitting the road. To minimize the risk of falling asleep at the wheel, it is important to have had a good night's sleep the previous night and always leave well-rested. If you plan on driving at night, you should have taken a nap of at least 2 hours before getting behind the wheel.

But did you know that it is also important to avoid overeating during the meal before your departure? A heavy meal and/or consuming alcohol prolongs digestion time and promotes drowsiness.

Contrary to what is often believed, accidents related to drowsiness do not only occur at night but also during the day. Our biological clock makes us feel sleepy at night (especially between 2am and 5am) and during the day between 1pm and 3pm.

That is why it is better to have a light lunch and exclusively drink non-alcoholic beverages before getting in your car.

3- Avoid traveling alone as much as possible.

The risk of falling asleep is increased when driving alone, and not just because there is no one to take over the wheel if needed...

Having company during a car journey is one of the best ways to reduce the risk of drowsiness while driving.

Not only can your "co-pilot" engage in conversation to help you stay awake, but they can also alert you if your driving behavior becomes odd or dangerous.

4- Learn to recognize the signs of drowsiness.

Whether you are alone or accompanied, it is essential to know how to recognize the first signs of drowsiness.

The symptoms that should alert you are:
• repeated yawning
• the urge to rub your eyes and face
• itchy eyes
• difficulty concentrating on the road
• pain in the neck, back, and shoulders
• a feeling of numbness in the legs that makes you want to fidget in your seat
• difficulty finding a comfortable driving position and keeping both hands on the steering wheel.

As soon as these signs of drowsiness while driving appear, you must quickly exit the highway to take a break.

To avoid worsening the urge to sleep, also remember to properly adjust the temperature inside the car. Excessive heat or cold and poor ventilation promote drowsiness.

5- Take regular breaks.

When taking a long journey, it is essential to take a break every 2 hours. However, do not wait for this interval to stop if you feel tired with stiffness in your neck, yawning, and heavy eyelids.

Do not continue your journey just because you are almost there: most accidents related to drowsiness or a simple lapse in vigilance occur a few kilometers from the destination!

If you still have some distance to cover, you absolutely must take a power nap of 10 to 15 minutes maximum before getting back behind the wheel. You can then drive for another hour and a half to two hours, but no more!

You can also have a cup of coffee to help you stay awake for a few hours. However, you must wait at least 15 minutes after drinking it to allow the caffeine to take effect before continuing. Also, make sure to use this trick only once and not abuse coffee as caffeine can make drivers nervous and disrupt their reactions.

You will find even more tips for staying alert while driving in the Road Safety brochure (link below).