The holiday time is upon us that means parties, social engagements and long drives. Having late nights andlong distance drives can make a driver very drowsy which becomes more dangerous than you may realize.
According to the National Sleep Foundation’s Sleep in America poll, 60% of Americans have driven while feeling sleepy and 37% admit to actually having fallen asleep at the wheel in the past year.
Follow the tips from the National Sleep Foundation before hitting the road:
* Get a good night’s sleep.
* Plan to drive long trips with a companion. Passengers can help look for early warning signs of fatigue or switch drivers when needed. Passengers should stay awake to talk to the driver.
* Schedule regular stops, every 100 miles or two hours.
* Avoid alcohol and medications (over-the-counter and prescribed) that may impair performance. Alcohol interacts with fatigue, increasing its effects — just like drinking on an empty stomach.
Here are some suggestions on how you can prevent drowsy driving:
* Take a 15 to 20-minute nap. More than 20 minutes can make you groggy for at least five minutes after awakening.
* Consume the equivalent of two cups of coffee. Caffeine is available in various forms (e.g. soft drinks, energy drinks, coffee, tea, chewing gum, tablets) and amounts; remember, caffeine takes about 30 minutes to enter the blood stream and will not greatly affect those who regularly consume it. For best results, try taking caffeine and then a short nap to get the benefits of both
Click here to get a free New York City Auto Insurance Quote today.
As winter approaches, driving conditions can be quite dangerous with snowy weather, icy roads, high winds and rain. In order to protect yourself and loved ones in terrible weather the following tips may help you in hazardous conditions.