Drowsy driving is to blame for a significant percentage of traffic accidents yearly. If you'd like to learn about this hazard's causes and how to prevent it, keep reading this post by Oil Options in Knightdale.

Getting enough sleep can be challenging for many drivers. For instance, think about night shift workers, night school attendees, or newborn babies' parents. In any case, sleep-deprived driving is a dangerous business. So much so that medical experts state drowsy driving has many similar effects to driving drunk. With the above in mind, this post has gathered vital information on the causes, effects, and measures to prevent drowsy driving. Keep scrolling to learn more!

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Why Is Drowsy Driving So Dangerous?

As mentioned, drowsy driving bears many physical and cognitive similarities to drunk driving. When sleepy, you might feel heavy eyelids, weakness, and loss of control over your body. As for cognitive abilities, you gradually become less focused and alert. Plus, your judgment and reaction time get impaired. All those effects can result in a dangerous, trance-like state at the wheel. So, it's not surprising that drowsy driving is the cause of a significant percentage of road accidents.

Signs of Drowsiness

Paying attention to sudden yawns and nods is vital when driving. After all, all signs of drowsiness are subtle and may appear gradually. Thus, you must identify them before they become a safety concern, especially when driving at night or over long distances. That said, here are the key signs of drowsiness behind the wheel:

• Repeated yawning and blinking
• Heavy eyelids
• Decreased vigilance on the road
• Sudden nodding
• Poor recall on the last few miles traveled
• Ignoring traffic signs
• Swerving out of the lane

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How to Prevent Drowsy Driving

We all know we must get at least seven hours of sleep at night to avoid drowsy driving. Still, there are more precautions one must take to avoid falling asleep at the wheel. Here are some key tips to prevent yourself from becoming a drowsy driver:

• If you take prescription or over-the-counter medication, check their labels to see if they have sedative side effects. If they do, discuss it with your doctor.
• Avoid night driving. The reason for this is your circadian rhythm, which refers to your sleep-wake cycle. Your body spurs cortisol at daylight, making you feel awake and alert. At night, however, you feel sleepy due to the melatonin release. Given such facts, it's safer not to drive between 10 pm and 6 am.
• Avoid driving long distances alone. Instead, travel with a family member or a friend with whom you can take turns driving. Of course, this person must be old enough to drive and have a valid driver's license.
• Driving over long hours on tedious roads can also induce a drowsy state at the wheel. To avoid that, take a break to walk, hydrate, eat a snack, and regain your energy every two hours.

Follow These Steps If You Feel Drowsy on the Road

Now, it's time to review the best ways to handle drowsiness once it appears when driving. After all, it can happen to any of us, especially when driving long distances. Given that possibility, here are a few steps to manage drowsiness risk:

1. If you suddenly experience the signs of drowsiness listed above, pull over as soon as possible at a safe spot.
2. Lay down on your backseat and sleep for at least twenty minutes. Why? Medical experts suggest that is enough time to mitigate the signs of drowsiness. If you can sleep for longer, do so, as it can help you regain more energy.
3. Finally, drink coffee or energy drinks after you nap for an energy boost and get back on the road.

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