Effectively, here are 9 ways to get rid of sleepiness while driving on the road

Not a few of you may have an agenda to go on a road trip to fill your end of year holidays. Driving on the road with the people closest to you is always exciting, especially on holiday together. But what must always be emphasized is related to driving safety. One of them is about how to get rid of sleepiness while driving, so you can stay focused on your road trip.

Drowsiness while driving is a problem for many people. It should not be underestimated; this can have a fatal impact even at low vehicle speeds. Therefore, it is important to know how to respond to these conditions, so that you also avoid the risk of accidents that could occur.

Read More: 9 Factors that Cause Traffic Accidents, Be aware of them all!

So how do you get rid of sleepiness while driving?

There are many things you can do to avoid drowsiness while driving a car. Some are done by changing your lifestyle, while others can be done while you are in the vehicle and driving.

1. Get enough sleep and wake up early

Making sure you get enough sleep and wake up early on the day of your trip will help you avoid being sleepy. Even though it is more of a preventive measure, this method can be done and is quite effective. This first method will feel much more impactful if you have regular and quality sleep hours.

2. Music with a High Tempo

Up-beat music is one way to overcome sleepiness while driving. Music with this rhythm keeps the heart rate high and provides the stimulation the brain needs so it doesn't get bored. You can look for music with a tempo like this and sing along or enjoy it during the trip.

3. Avoid Foods with High Saturated Fat

To avoid feeling sleepy, you can also avoid foods with a high saturated fat content. When taking a lunch or dinner break, try to avoid foods with this content to avoid excessive drowsiness.

4. Fresh Air from Outside

When driving, turning on the AC is a must. But sometimes you also need fresh air from outside, so opening the car window a little will give you the fresh air you need. Apart from that, the incoming air and different aromas will keep the brain stimulated so that it doesn't get bored quickly and become sleepy.

5. Eye drops

Continuous exposure to AC on the facial area will trigger dry eyes. Dry eyes can be interpreted as sleepiness because you will constantly try to blink to moisten them. For this reason, you can use eye drops to keep your eyes moist and avoid this condition.

6. Have a 'Co-Pilot.'

Drowsiness often comes when you drive alone. Boredom and lack of brain activity trigger drowsiness more quickly. This rarely happens when you travel with your friends, because practically there are lots of things to talk about and you have a 'co-pilot' who accompanies you during the trip.

7. Remember to rest

Ideally it is advisable to have regular driving time and rest time. Most people use 3-hour intervals to rest for 15 to 20 minutes, before starting to ride again. This gives the body the opportunity to stretch the muscles and improve blood flow again. Resting for 20 minutes can help you regain focus and energy.

8. Coffee and Chewing Gum

These two 'weapons' are widely known as the most practical way to get rid of sleepiness while driving. Chewing gum is believed to reduce stress hormone levels and make you feel calmer while driving, as well as keeping you busy with activities other than driving. Meanwhile, coffee with the right caffeine level can help you stay awake. Remember, the focus is on the caffeine, not on the sweet taste or creamer that makes it thicker.

9. Take turns driving

If you are tired and you can't stop the journey for a moment, don't hesitate to ask your friend to take your place while driving. You can take a moment to sleep, while your friend can continue your trip so that your holiday plans can still run on time.

Read More: 10 car spare parts that must be serviced regularly & their cost range

The Dangers of Driving While Drowsy, Risks Threatening Life Safety

Why do you need to know how to get rid of sleepiness while driving a car? Because basically driving while drowsy is very dangerous for safety. Some risks that can occur include the following.

  • First, decreased concentration levels. Focus on road conditions can be reduced drastically, so that the body's response to dealing with emergency conditions will be greatly reduced. This increases the risk of accidents.
  • Second, driving is unstable. Decreased concentration and response level will make you occasionally lose consciousness. Maybe not for long and only a few seconds. But on highways with high driving speeds, this can mean tens or hundreds of meters without full control. Control over the vehicle is reduced and, in the end, it will be detrimental to everyone.
  • Third, be alert to traffic signs. Traffic signs are carefully placed to alert drivers. Dangerous things can happen when you are not familiar with the road you are on, and you are completely unaware of what you will face next because you are not focused on seeing the warnings given.
  • Fourth, experiencing sleep inertia. This condition is quite dangerous because you feel like you are still awake while your brain and body are asleep. Coordination decreases drastically, as do responses and reflexes that can appear in sudden conditions.
  • Fifth, safety of people in the vehicle. When an accident occurs, the risk must be borne by everyone in the car. Not only that, but you will also experience major losses due to damage to your beloved car.

Tips on How to Get Rid of Drowsiness, and Equip Yourself with the Right Insurance

Prioritizing driving safety is something that everyone must do, whether in the context of short-distance travel or long-distance travel such as road trips. For this reason, you can apply some of the tips above to get rid of sleepiness so that you stay focused while driving.

Apart from that, having the right insurance for yourself and Vehicle Insurance would be recommended. Insurance will play a big role when unplanned things happen and will help you avoid greater losses due to accidents or damage that arises due to things that were not planned.

Read More: 6 Year-End Vacation Ideas Plus Recommendations, it’ll be Fun!

That was a brief discussion about several ways to overcome sleepiness when driving. Apart from applying the tips above, you also need to start looking for the right insurance product to suit your needs, such as SmartDrive Insurance from PT AXA Insurance Indonesia.

SmartDrive insurance from AXA Insurance Indonesia will provide protection and reduce worries about the risk of breakdowns, scratches, dents, lost keys, theft and unwanted incidents on the road.  Contact our sales department or visit mypage.axa.co.id and get the best offer for solid protection from PT AXA Insurance Indonesia!

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