Drowsy driving can put you and those around you at risk. Fortunately, this problem can be prevented, identified, and dealt with in time. Learn more in this post by Synthetic Solutions in Zebulon.

Did you know that the National Highway Safety Administration recorded 633 fatal accidents due to drowsy driving in 2020? Given such a figure, we can't gloss over the fact that drowsy driving is a major problem among drivers. Drowsiness affects a driver's perception, response time, concentration, and coordination. That is why feeling sleepy at the wheel is so dangerous. For all those reasons, this post has gathered information on the matter. So, read on if you want to stay awake and sharp at the wheel.

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Factors Associated With Drowsy Driving

It is a fact that certain places, habits, or activities trigger our drowsiness. For example, many people feel like taking a nap after eating heavy meals. Likewise, others relax and fall asleep while watching movies at night. So, some factors can make us tired or sleepy at the wheel. Here are the most common ones:

• Insufficient sleep: Many drivers get limited hours of sleep due to their busy lives. For example, suppose you've just had a baby and wake up several times a night to feed and care for them. Similarly, imagine that you work during the day and study at night. In such cases, the result is usually being slightly sleepy behind the wheel.
• Alcohol consumption: There is no denying that drinking alcohol causes tiredness and disorientation. After all, alcohol stimulates adenosine, a chemical responsible for symptoms of drowsiness.
• Medications: Some analgesics, anti-flu drugs, or anxiolytics contain sedatives that can cause lethargy. Taking these types of drugs can even alter a few cognitive functions you depend on for driving.
• Driving at night: If you are like most people, your wake cycles occur during the day while your sleep cycles occur at night. Thus, you are more likely to fall asleep at the wheel if you travel at night.
• Sleep disorders: Drivers who suffer from narcolepsy, insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, or any other sleep disorder have a higher risk of having a traffic accident due to drowsy driving.

Signs of Drowsiness at the Wheel

Drowsiness often appears without you realizing it. It's not uncommon to hear about drivers who overlook their first yawns and end up succumbing to short-term lapses of sleep at the wheel. Thus, identifying all the warning signs associated with drowsiness is essential to manage it in time. Here are the main symptoms of sleepiness that you should pay attention to when driving:

• Yawning
• Heavy eyelids
• Trouble keeping eyes wide open
• Blurred vision
• Wandering thoughts
• Difficulty concentrating
• Difficulty remembering the last few miles traveled
• Missing traffic signs
• Swerving out of lane
• Sudden nodding off

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How to Overcome Drowsy Driving?

Imagine you've been driving for more than three hours down a straight, monotonous road. Suddenly, you catch yourself yawning but don't think anything of it. Within minutes, your eyelids get heavy, you lose track of the road you're on, and you start nodding off. You may be wondering what to do in such a situation. Well, the first and most important thing to do is to stop in a safe place as soon as you recognize that you are falling asleep. If you have caffeinated beverages within reach, drink them and lie down to sleep. It is enough to sleep for 20 minutes to get rid of the symptoms of drowsiness. When you wake up, you will feel more alert and have more energy to go on your way.

Prevent Drowsy Driving With These Tips

Finally, here are some tips you should keep in mind to get the restful sleep you need to drive safe and alert:

• Get at least 8 hours of sleep before hitting the road.
• Check your medications' side effects and ensure they have no sedative effects.
• On long trips, stop to rest for fifteen minutes every two hours.
• Travel with a companion whenever possible.
• Avoid driving at night.
• Do not mix driving with alcohol.

We hope you find the information in this post helpful in preventing drowsy driving. For more tips on improving your driving safety, speak to the oil pros at Synthetic Solutions by calling them at (888) 450-2658. Don't forget to visit AMSOIL's online store to place an order for the top synthetic oil in Zebulon.