Driving while you’re tired is extremely dangerous and can lead to a fatal crash that claims your life and the lives of others. If you’re feeling tired, the simple solution is to avoid getting behind the wheel. However, in some cases, drowsiness suddenly strikes during a drive, and you must know how to manage this situation.
Pull Over
If you feel as though you might crash, pulling over is necessary. Put on your hazard lights before pulling off to the side of the road. Do prioritize safety. For example, pulling off the road in a dimly lit rural area at night could be a risk. On the other hand, you may have the ability to rest at a truck stop during daylight hours. If it is safe to do so, get out of the car to get some fresh air.
Drink Coffee
Caffeinating yourself for a long drive might be a dangerous strategy. However, if you are a short while from home and coffee will make you perk up and be alert enough to drive, consider having a drink like Coastal Blend dark roast coffee. You can make sure to always have a travel mug of coffee with you on drives. In the event that you’re near a coffee shop or grocery store, you could run in to pick up a caffeinated beverage.
Get a Hotel
Sometimes, you simply cannot fight off drowsiness, and you need to be aware of when your lack of sleep is becoming a risk to other people on the road. You may simply need to book a hotel for the night. Then, you can continue your journey in the morning. If you’re going on a long drive, look up hotels that are on the route in advance. You can even plan to stop overnight after a few hours so that you don’t have to worry about getting drowsy.
Call for Help
Don’t be embarrassed to call for help. Find out if a trusted relative or friend can come to drive your car home. You can book a taxi or car to get your loved one to you. Calling a person to come help you is much better than causing a fatal accident.
Driving while you’re tired can be seriously dangerous. Once you feel that wall of exhaustion hit, you might think that there isn’t much that you can do about it. The reality is that you can take several steps to reduce the risk of danger.
