STUTTGART: It can hit as you head home from work, on a long trip or in a traffic jam - the feeling that you cannot resist falling asleep.
But closing your eyes even for a second can be dangerous for yourself and others, says German testing organisation Dekra.
Say you are driving at 120kph. That means you are covering more than 33 metres in a second. That adds up to some 100 metres over three seconds. If your eyes close while you cover that distance, you avoid an accident only if you are lucky, say driving specialists.
Know the signs
Drivers must recognise signs of fatigue in good time. Driving organisations list the following as indicators you need to take a break:
> Repeated, irrepressible yawning
> Loss of concentration
> Difficulty keeping your eyes open
> Problems keeping in your lane
> Gaps in remembering the route travelled
People can easily get drowsy after a long day, on a monotonous route or in the dark. But some people who have sleeping problems in general should be especially aware of the dangers.
If you spot any of these warning signs, you should urgently take a break. It is better to take a power nap of some 15 to 20 minutes then step out and move around and have some exercise in the fresh air, than to grab a coffee or energy drink.
You can also prevent tiredness in advance by taking a short break at least every two hours helps, even if you still feel awake, Dekra says.
Ideally, eat small, light meals before a journey, as these make you less tired. The best drinks are mineral water or juice spritzers.
However, tips provided by Britain's RAC driving organization include drinking two cups of coffee or other high caffeine drinks and have a rest to allow time for the caffeine to kick in
Also, try to avoid making long trips between midnight and 6am and 2pm to 4pm as people tend to be naturally less alert during those hours.
Lastly, find some other drivers so you can share the driving if possible.
Car warning systems
Many newer models have systems in place to warn drivers if they show signs of tiredness. Drowsiness warning systems have been mandatory for new vehicles in the EU as of July 2024.
After all, driving while you are tired puts you in danger as well as your passengers and all other road users, the RAC says.
Bearing all these tips in mind may also save you some legal problems as anyone who is at the wheel while being overtired is considered unfit to drive and is liable to prosecution.
