Story by Perry Mack
‘On the road again - just can't wait to get on the road again’, sang Willie Nelson. And while we often can’t wait to get on the road again, after a few hours we cant wait to get off the road again! It can be monotonous behind the wheel and therein lays the danger.
Studies have linked driver fatigue to one out of every ten accidents on the road. Staying sharp and alert, as well as in your own lane, will allow you to arrive safely at your destination.
1) Get a good nights sleep before you travel. It sounds obvious but who among us hasn’t spent the night before packing and making plans, going to bed, not with visions of sugar plums dancing in our heads but of missing items and reservations.
2) Take breaks. A 15-minute break every two hours is recommended but take them when you need them, not when a clock tells you to. Stretch, walk, jog around, and get the blood flowing to your brain.
3) Get your passenger(s) to talk to you as you drive. It helps keep your mind active – most of the time. If you have a tendency to tune out your partners voice – better move on to number four.
4) Be comfortable but not too comfortable. Many trucks and motorcoaches have driver cockpits that resemble first class on a trans-Pacific flight not the pilots seat. You wouldn’t want the pilot that comfortable, would you? Keep your seat upright, shoulders back and use the lumbar support if you have one (or add one). Think dining room seating not massage therapy.
5) Along the same lines, keep the temperature cool and avoid listening to lullabies. No soft relaxing music and change the type of music to give your brain something fresh to consider.
6) Eat small meals or snacks. Hitting the road after a turkey dinner is a sure fire way to have enjoyed your last meal. Keep it light!
7) Avoid starting late in the day and late night drives. The darkness decreases things to keep your brain occupied.
8) This might seem obvious, but no booze, or medications that will make you sleepy.
9) Statistically, crashes are most likely to happen between 2pm-4pm and 2am-6am. If you can avoid driving at this time, chances are you’ll keep your spotless safety record.
10) Occasionally you will get sleepy but you might not be able to pull over. I like to keep caffeinated energy drinks nearby for these situations and mentholyptus candies, which I find refreshing.
Stay safe on your travels and stay alert. The other guy might not be as well read as you!