How To Stay Awake When Driving: Tips and Tricks

Driving can be boring. When you’re facing an endless stretch of road and nothing but blinking lights, it’s easy to let your mind wander. If you’re driving at night or haven’t had enough sleep though, you might start getting drowsy while driving. This can be very dangerous. Let’s look over how to stay awake while driving.

Ways To Stay Awake While Driving

There are a number of ways to stay awake while driving, ranging from avoiding nighttime driving to downing some good old caffeine. Here are some of our tips for brushing off sleepiness and staying alert on the road.

Drive During Your Usual Waking Hours

It’s difficult to drive at a time when your body is used to sleeping. This varies depending on your personal sleep schedule, but typically you’ll find it difficult to drive between midnight and 6 AM. And that isn’t the only time you should be cautious. Your circadian rhythm naturally cycles between alert and drowsy periods. It’ll also drop between 1 PM and 3 PM, so take care while driving after lunch as well.

Get Enough Sleep and Nap Before Driving

Naturally, if you lack sleep, you’ll be more drowsy on the road. One of the best ways to stay awake while driving is to make sure you have enough sleep in the first place. Try to get at least 7 hours of sleep before driving if you’re 18 or older. Those who don’t regularly get at least 7 hours of sleep nightly are more at risk of accidents from drowsy driving. If you’re a teenager of driving age under 18, then you’ll need at least 8 to 10 hours of sleep to avoid being drowsy on the road.

You can also take a quick 20-minute power nap before driving to reboot your brain before hitting the road. These naps can also help mid-trip if you get drowsy. Just be sure to find a safe place to sleep.

Roll the Windows Down

Some cold wind whipping across your face can help keep you alert and reduce your fatigue or tiredness. Roll the windows down to let some fresh air into your vehicle.

Listen to Music

It’s best to listen to upbeat music while driving to help you stay alert. Singing along can also help you keep from falling asleep at the wheel. Try to avoid slower, calming songs if you’re already starting to feel drowsy.

Have a Driving Buddy

For long distances, it’s always best to have someone with you. They can keep you company and help you stay awake by talking with you. Another set of eyes on the road won’t hurt, and you can take turns driving if necessary.

Drink Some Coffee and Eat Snacks

It’s no secret that caffeine will wake you up quickly in a pinch, but take care all the same. A caffeine crash might affect your driving after some time passes. You can also have a simple 100-calorie snack. Just avoid those with a lot of carbs or sugar because these will also lead to a crash after some time.

Energy-boosting vitamins like B-12 will also help transform your food’s glucose into healthy energy while also circulating oxygen through your body. Other proven energy-boosting supplements include ashwagandha, iron, and ginseng root.

Avoid Alcohol

You absolutely should not be drinking and driving. Alcohol will increase your tiredness and make you drive worse. It affects your reaction time as well, and it can cost you precious milliseconds in an accident.

Dangers of Drowsy Driving

While falling asleep at the wheel is certainly the most dangerous case, don’t discount how hazardous it is to drive even when you’re drowsy. The US Center of Disease Control warns that driving while sleepy means your attention to the road is compromised, along with your reaction time and decision making. Braking or maneuvering suddenly in case of an emergency is more difficult when you’re sleepy.

Do You Need To Stop Driving?

If you get too drowsy, it might be time to stop driving and give yourself some time to recover. Here are some things to look out for:

• Disconnected or wandering thoughts while driving
• Difficulty focusing
• The inability to remember your last few miles on the road
• Hitting rumble strips or drifting from your lane
• Difficulty keeping your head up or your eyes open
• Repeated yawning

What To Do if You’re Sleepy While Driving

If the tips we’ve given for how to stay awake while driving aren’t enough, it might be time to admit defeat before things get dangerous. Pull up in a safe rest stop as soon as you can if your drowsiness is getting the better of you. Try taking a quick 15-minute power nap to combat the sleepiness. You can also try a short walk around your vehicle to get the blood flowing through your legs and wake yourself up. Even if these steps are a hassle and extend your travel time, it’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to staying awake on the road.