The Top 3 Signs You Are Driving Drowsy

Let’s face it; driving can get really boring really fast. What happens when you get bored? Your mind starts to wander. Before long, you can’t even remember what the last few miles were like. And then your eyelids start to get heavy and you are fighting with yourself to stay awake. The next thing you know you wake up and your car is off the road, or worse, in another lane. You just fell asleep at the wheel without even realizing it was happening. But your body gave you plenty of warnings, plenty of chances for you to pull over or wake yourself up. You just need to learn to recognize them.

Difficulty Focusing

If you are having a hard time staying focused on driving, this is the first sign you may be getting tired. When your mind starts to wander, try to get it back on track. Something as simple as reading the street signs aloud will keep your brain active and your eyes on the road.

Making Rookie Mistakes

Did you just past your exit? Maybe you flew through a stop sign without even thinking twice about it. When you are not noticing key items on the road, it may be a good time to pull over. While it was just a stop sign this time, next time it may be another car coming right at you.

Your Body Tells You

The most obvious way to know you are getting too tired to drive is by the physical indications your body gives you: your head begins to nod, your eyelids droop, you yawn. These are all easily recognizable signs of drowsiness but are all too often ignored.

What can I do if I notice these signs?

The best thing to do is to stop driving. According to the National Sleep Foundation, 60% of people have continued to drive when these symptoms arose. Consequently, 37% of them actually fell asleep at the wheel. Luckily, they were still alive to take the survey, but you may not be so lucky.

If stopping is not an option, you can blast the cold air, crank up the music, and move your body. Get your blood pumping and before long you will feel more awake. The more alert you are, the better driver you will be.

For more ideas on how to be a better driver, check out DefensiveDriving.com.