To be clear, yawning isn’t the only way to feel exhausted while driving. It has to do with those cunning little gremlins that come up out of nowhere. You’re tapping your fingers in time with the music one minute. Then, on their own time, your eyes shut like window blinds. That’s how fatigue is: cunning, unyielding, and not at all agreeable. driver fatigue monitoring system
Take this. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drowsy drivers are responsible for thousands of collisions annually. It’s not only night owls. In the middle of the day, tedious meetings or lengthy conference calls can exhaust you more quickly than a smartphone in the sun. Not to mention eating a carbohydrate-rich meal followed by air conditioning, which is the evil twin of sleep.
Are the signals visible to you? It’s more difficult than putting smoke in a jar. But they’re there, whether they’re waking up abruptly after missing an exit, daydreaming, drifting out of your lane, or having heavy eyelids. Toughing it out has no benefits. Take a break, stretch, wash your face with cool water, or drink some coffee. Never consider those indicators to be harmless quirks.
The narrative goes like this: “I’ll just get home.” I’m all right. Before anything awful happens, people tell themselves that. Do you recall the time your friend Joe left at three in the morning on a road trip because “he’d had coffee?” His car was still in good shape when he woke up in a cornfield, but his pride was gone. Never believe that coffee can replace a good night’s sleep. Unfortunately, it doesn’t.
Let’s now discuss practical defense. Start over. Although eight hours may seem like a lot, six uninterrupted hours of sleep is preferable to waking up in the middle of the night. Take turns driving if you can. You share the responsibility if you share the wheel. Schedule two-hour breaks. The object of this game is not to see who blinks first.
Technology is also useful. Many cars make the sound of irate parakeets as you drive off the road. Make use of that. You can avoid dull, white-knuckle driving by using cruise control. However, don’t allow technology to make you lazy. Human responses still prevail in the end.
Water is a hero in disguise. Replace that sugar-filled Coke with water. It helps you think clearly. Remember to get some fresh air as well. Get the window open. Play some upbeat music from your selection. Even if you’re off-key, if necessary, sing along loudly.
Companies can also assist. Make individuals aware of the negative effects of sleep debt. Employees who claim to be exhausted should be rewarded rather than criticized. Those who work shifts may benefit from flexible scheduling in terms of their sleep quality.
Late-night driving is not rewarded with awards. Take caution. Pay attention to your body’s signals to rest. It’s not a sprint to drive safely; it’s a marathon. Your next trip won’t turn out to be a terrifying tale if you stay alert. If Joe can learn it, we can all learn it.