Stay awake, alive and alert on the road.
Follow these suggestions to help stay alert on the road:
- Get a good night's sleep before long trips.
- If experiencing excessive daytime sleepiness, see a physician.
- On long trips, drive with a companion (who should remain awake) and stop for a break every two hours or 100 miles.
- Avoid alcohol and medications that may affect performance.
- Stay off the road between midnight and 7 a.m., a period when the body's "biological clock" makes virtually everyone feel sleepy.
- Be aware of signs of fatigue: lane drifting, repeated
yawning, inability to remember driving the last few miles, difficulty
keeping eyes open. If these occur, pull over as soon as possible into a
safe area, lock vehicle doors, and take a brief nap. Opening the window
and turning on the radio are NOT effective ways to stay awake.
- Drink coffee or another source of caffeine (allow about 30 minutes for the caffeine to take effect).