Many drivers fail to acknowledge how tiring a long-distance road trip can be on their minds and bodies. Nodding off at the wheel is not only dangerous to oneself, but of course to other drivers,and can be just as fateful, accident wise, as driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. Luckily, there are some ways we can circumvent driver fatigue, and it definitely pays for all of us out there on the road, to take the responsibility of learning all of them.
Get rested, not arrested!
One of the great things you can do to refrain from driver fatigue, is to be as well-rested as you possibly can before getting into your vehicle. Getting up at a very early hour for a long drive may mean a drop in energy and your attention span a couple of hours into the trip. To avoid fatigue, drivers should attempt to get as much sleep as possible the night before the journey, and then think about taking some short naps at rest areas, or just pull over after a few hours of driving and walk around and gently exercise with deep breathing to avoid motorway fatigue.
Sharing with Others
Another good way to avoid being fatigued is to split driving responsibilities with at least one other driver. Admittedly, some drivers do not feel comfortable riding as passengers, especially if they are with novice co-drivers, but they should still try turning over the wheel periodically to avoid driving fatigue. Simply using car rental in NZ will also make sure that people drive more safely, as the car they’re driving is not theirs, and therefore they will have more responsibilityif anything occurs. Plus, you should take it easy anyway, asbeing a rental car, it’s a car that you’re not used to driving!
Anyone for Coffee or Tea?
This one’s a no-brainer. Many people’s way to prevent driving fatigue is to drink reasonable amounts of stimulating beverages, such as strong coffee or tea. The caffeine from these beverages (especially coffee) can assist a driver in making him feel more alert for a few hours; just make sure to have some extra in a flask if driving for a while, as the caffeine will sooner or later wear off. Also, why not try having a break at a roadsiderestaurant and grab a bite and once again, have a little wander around to get the blood flowing.
Doing it Bit by Bit
If there’s no absolutely no hurry at all regarding time, then why not take it easy by breaking the journey up into small parts along the way. Let’s say a trip will take around 12 hours of driving to complete, then just break it down into two 6 hour segments and stop somewhere for the night at a hotel or guest house and see somewhere new for a change!
Anyway, hope that helps, and wherever you’re going, please drive carefully, get there in one piece and enjoy the drive! All the best.