Are you too tired to drive?Three signs to watch out for
Driving is essential for many of us. Whether you need to commute to work, drive to pick up and drop off your kids, see friends and family or simply to visit new places, you’re one of over 42 million people in the UK who have a driving licence – a record high.
Because driving is such a big part of everyday life, sometimes you may get behind the wheel in a sub-optimal state. Whether you’re running on lack of sleep or have already driven a lot that day, tiredness can cause serious danger to both yourself, your passengers and other road users.
In this post, we share three signs that it’s time to pull over and have a rest, as well as what you can do to help yourself regain concentration when you need to.
Your find your mind wanders
Often, the more experience you have, the less you feel the need to drive in silence. You might be quite happy to have music on, or chat to your passengers, as long as the traffic is steady and there’s no incidents. Your brain is still monitoring the road in the background, and you can act safely and accordingly.
However, when you’re tired, you may find that your mind wanders – but without maintaining your focus on the road as well. You may miss turnings, or find that you’re nudging over the speed limit without noticing.
Your depth perception is off
If you find yourself getting a little too close to another car, bumping the kerb or struggling to stay in your lane, then this is a clear sign that you’re getting tired. Fatigued drivers have slower reaction times – research by road safety charity Brake shows that if you nod off at the wheel for just two to thirty seconds, you could travel 200 metres without even realising, at 70mph. Given the close distance of cars on a motorway, this is a frightening statistic with serious consequences.
You feel like you have to intensely focus
If you’re having to concentrate on the road more than usual, that’s probably a good indicator that your brain is tired and struggling to focus. Especially if you’re finding that you’re blinking or yawning more than usual, or need to turn the temperature down to make yourself more alert, it’s time to take a break. Even just a short rest for 30 minutes can help you feel better.
What can you do to reduce tiredness?
If you have to drive, there are some steps you can take to help keep yourself and others safe. These should never be used as a replacement for proper rest, but they can boost your attention for a short period of time.
Firstly, stay hydrated. It can be tempting to pack a flask of coffee, but whilst this drink will give you a pick-me-up boost, it’s also a diuretic, meaning you’ll get dehydrated. Secondly, think carefully about what you eat before and during your trip, as your diet can have a big impact on your concentration levels. Foods such as yoghurt, bananas, sweet potatoes and dark chocolate are all good sources of energy, but you should skip pizza, crisps and other heavy foods whilst you’re focusing.
Remember, getting to your destination on time is never worth putting yourself or others at risk. Try to avoid driving tired as much as you can, plan stops, and be careful if you do have to get behind the wheel.
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