How to avoid falling asleep while driving? What to drink to avoid falling asleep while driving: sleep remedies

Issues discussed in the material:

• Why do you feel so sleepy while driving a car?
• How to understand that the body is already tired and can fall asleep
• What are some ways to avoid falling asleep while driving?
• Why energy drinks don’t always help and not everyone

Sad statistics show that more people die and are injured on the roads as a result of accidents than in war zones. The reasons include overconfident driving behavior, lack of driving experience, icy or wet roads, and fog. Also, very often tragic accidents are associated with the fact that the driver lost control when he was overcome by sleep. Therefore, it is extremely important to know how to protect yourself from such a situation, how not to fall asleep while driving and what to do if you have a long trip ahead.

How to stay awake while driving at night, how to overcome sleep?

Unless you work as a truck driver, driving in the dark can be very tiring. On the one hand, the biological clock makes itself felt, and on the other, concentration decreases due to constant stress.

You can overcome sleep by talking with passengers. Of course, for this they must be in the salon. Truckers use a walkie-talkie for this.

Communication with passengers stimulates the brain. But it can also cause the opposite phenomenon. An interesting topic of conversation or a heated argument can distract the driver from the road and reduce his reaction.

Mr. Bean. Humor.

During a conversation, the passenger must monitor the driver’s reaction and if he begins to get confused in his answers and loses the essence of the conversation, then he needs to urgently tell him about it and cheer him up. If, based on the driver’s reaction, the passenger understands that sleep is inevitable, then it is best to persuade the driver to stop for a rest.

While resting, do eye exercises (just not on the go): blink your eyes one at a time, look from the road to the instruments, to the side stand, look into the distance several times, and then at the tip of your nose, again into the distance.

If the driver is alone in the car, then instead of communicating with the passenger, you can use audio files. Music, audiobooks, lectures, etc. You can use anything that can cheer you up. But, some music and audiobooks may have the opposite effect. Therefore, you need to be careful when choosing such files for your audio library.

Record your favorite songs on a flash drive and play them while driving. But don’t just listen, try to sing along. This needs to be done loudly. Thanks to this singing, the lungs will begin to work more intensely and more oxygen will enter the blood. Which will lead to increased brain activity. Sleep will recede a little.

In addition, while singing, the muscles of the abdomen and throat tense, hearing and memory are strained.

Music

Listening to music while driving helps fight sleep, because driving in complete silence causes fatigue faster. When choosing music for your car, give preference to fun, dynamic songs. Quiet, slow compositions have the opposite effect. Some experts recommend choosing foreign music, because native speech has a soporific effect on a person.

A good solution is to not just listen to songs, but to sing along. This will not only invigorate you, but also lift your spirits. It is best not to listen to music constantly, but to take breaks so as not to depress the nervous system. For the same reason, you should not turn on the radio too loudly. Adjust the sound so that you are comfortable.

What to do to avoid falling asleep while driving?

You can also help prolong wakefulness by using an uncomfortable seating position. An uncomfortable posture will not allow you to relax and will keep you tense. Which can also help overcome sleep.

Some drivers, in order to avoid falling asleep while driving, take seeds, nuts, crackers, sour apples, candies and other products with them on the road. By eating them during the journey, you don’t have to worry about falling asleep.

Another “secret” method that truck drivers use to avoid falling asleep while driving. If they feel tired, they stop every 30-50 minutes and wash their face with mineral water. You can also wet your hair and neck with water. A state of vivacity for half an hour is guaranteed.

If you are on the road for more than 10 hours, then drink green hour periodically. This healthy drink contains tannins that stimulate brain activity. But even if green tea doesn't make you feel alert, its diuretic effect will make you stop frequently. Such a ragged pace will help you always be concentrated.

Tea at the table

Adding a citrus and pine scent will help add vigor. To do this, you can hang a special fragrance (“stinker”) in the car. Periodic ventilation of the interior will also prevent you from falling asleep. Cool, clean air will help increase your heart rate. Which is also a good way to prevent sleep while driving.

In order to avoid falling asleep while driving, you must rest before a long trip. If you do not feel very well, then it is better to refuse the trip.

Warm-up

If you feel tired, stop and get out of the car for fresh air. Warm up and do some physical exercise. It is useful to do several exercises for the eyes - rotate them, move them up and down and from side to side, close your eyes. You can put moisturizing drops into your eyes, which will eliminate the feeling of dryness that appears from looking at the road for a long time. If there is water, wash your face, rinse your neck, pour it on your head. You can use regular or mineral water.

Devices against sleep while driving

If you often use your car to travel long distances, you can purchase special electronic devices that will help prevent you from falling asleep while driving. Here are the most popular ones:

• Stop Sleep. This ring-shaped device is worn on the hand. If the device’s algorithm thinks that a person is starting to fall asleep, it vibrates, emits a signal and wakes him up.
• Anti dream. The device is attached behind the ear and emits a beep when the head position changes.
• Eye Tracker. This device is an entire warning system for a tired driver. Its algorithms monitor the position of the head and eyelids. If the driver is tired and starts to fall asleep, Eye Tracker will quickly notify him about this by voice, sound or using a vibration signal installed in the driver's seat.

Passenger

A passenger on a long journey is very valuable, and sometimes even irreplaceable. This is especially true in situations where the driver periodically feels sleepy. .

To prevent dangerous falling asleep, it is best to place the passenger in the back seat so that he can not only entertain the driver with a conversation, but also watch his eyes in the rearview mirror. It is necessary to agree in advance that as soon as the driver’s eyes begin to stick together, the passenger will immediately react and let the driver know about it.

To avoid falling asleep while driving: drugs, pills, sleep aids

You need to understand that falling asleep is a natural process of our body. With mental and physical fatigue, the body starts the process of falling asleep. During sleep, strength and internal systems are restored. Intense city traffic or a monotonous country road tires the nervous system, “loads” the eyes and takes away strength.

Using various drugs to prolong the wakefulness phase is not the best option. But sometimes a driver cannot do without pills and other sleep aids. They contain caffeine, taurine and vitamins. The main advantage of such tablets is that you can buy them and leave them in the car for a long time. The shelf life of such tablets is usually 2-3 years.

Energy tablets

The same cannot be said about coffee and other energy drinks. Coffee should be prepared before the trip, and drinks should preferably be purchased immediately before the trip. The most well-known drugs that interfere with sleep are:

• "Coffeeinimum" and "Caffetin" . Caffeine based tablets. They can help you stay alert for 14-18 hours. But taking caffeine also has a negative aspect. This compound greatly “loads” the nervous and cardiovascular systems.
• Tablets containing ginseng . This plant has long proven its effectiveness. Ginseng has a positive effect on brain activity, relieves fatigue and helps to concentrate.
• "Bioscan+Driver" . This product is made based on Siberian larch extract. This product is considered a natural energy drink. These tablets will help cope with drowsiness.
• Magnesium with vitamin B6 . An excellent tool to help you concentrate. The only negative is that it does not give an immediate effect. It is best to start drinking magnesium a few days before a long trip.

IMPORTANT: Energy chewing gum is very popular in the United States. Initially they were developed for army needs, but very soon they began to spread to civilians. There is chewing gum that contains up to 100 mg of caffeine.

You can take the above medications only after consulting a doctor. Almost all known sleep medications have side effects.

First signs of falling asleep

All the measures taken to prevent falling asleep will be of little use if you do not catch the signs of early sleep. You need to be able to distinguish between ordinary fatigue and the need to immediately stop and rest. If you have someone to swap with, you should do it immediately. Danger signs:

• you begin to notice the moment of blinking;
• optical illusion;
• attention is not focused;
• mental activity is difficult;
• minor traffic violations.

Usually a person does not notice the moment of blinking. If this happens while driving, it’s a sure sign of drowsiness. The imminent shutdown of the brain is evidenced by the fact that figures on the horizon, when approaching, turn out to be something completely different or disappear altogether. The following test tells you about falling asleep. Try looking at the instruments for a moment. If you can’t remember their readings, there are only a few seconds left until the moment of shutdown.

Try to perform simple arithmetic operations in your head. In the waking state this is not difficult. A person who is falling asleep is too lazy to do this and doesn’t want to talk. If there is silence in the cabin, soon everyone will fall asleep. It is advisable to conduct a conversation not just about anything, but to discuss some exciting topic.

Advice! Forgot to turn on your turn signal? Stopped on green? Don't remember the last road sign? Immediately pull over to the side of the road and rest. Continuing on the path could be deadly.

Which energy drink is better to drink while driving, which one is better to invigorate?

Energy drinks, unlike the medications described above, are more accessible. You can buy them right on the track. Such drinks are sold in cafes and gas stations. These energy drinks may contain caffeine, taurine, ginseng and other components. They are able to invigorate the body, drive away sleep and give vitality.

The simplest energy drink is coffee. The caffeine in this drink acts as a stimulant on the central nervous system. It can enhance mental and physical activity. But, caffeine should not be taken by people with heart problems.

Unlike advertising, energy drinks do not charge the body with additional energy, but mobilize the body's own energy reserves. Which leads to the fact that with long-term use of such drugs, nerve cells are depleted. And in order to get the desired effect, more and more energy drinks are required each time.

Energy drinks are a loan of energy

After which you need time to recuperate. Excessive consumption of such drinks can lead to major problems with the body's energy balance.

IMPORTANT: Making an energy drink at home is very simple. Pour a couple of spoons of instant coffee into a plastic glass and fill it with Coca-Cola. Stir and drink in one gulp. With this product you can instantly cheer up. But you can’t use it if you have problems with the heart and nervous system.

You need to understand that energy drinks affect everyone differently. Some people get turned on by a couple of sips of Red Bull, while others won’t even notice the effect of two cans of popular energy drinks.

In addition to caffeine, energy drinks may contain:

• Taurine. It has a positive effect on the nervous system, providing the body with extreme energy during stress and mental tension.
• Ginseng extract. Able to combat rapid fatigue and excessive fatigue. Very often it is prescribed for decreased concentration, memory impairment, and decreased performance.
• Green tea extract. It is used as an additional means to increase strength and energy, as it contains a small amount of caffeine.
• Guarana. This extract is extracted from guarana seeds. Adding it to the drink doubles the caffeine dosage.
• Carnitine. This amino acid can increase endurance. Our body produces carnitine itself. But, additional intake of this amino acid into the body can enhance the effect.
• Chinese lemongrass. Widely used as an adaptogenic and stimulant for mental and physical fatigue.

The most popular energy drinks are:

• Red Bull . A drink based on caffeine and taurine. Contains B vitamins. It can help athletes, students, representatives of extreme professions, and during long car trips cope with stress.
• Adrenalin Rush . This drink contains taurine, natural caffeine, as well as ginseng and guarana extracts. It has a more balanced composition than all those listed on this list. But, the effect of vigor after drinking this drink passes very quickly.
• Burn . Contains the “standard” set of each energy drink: caffeine, taurine and guarana extract. The effect of taking Burn depends on the body. But, in any case, some time after taking it you need to rest and restore the body’s energy reserves.
• Monster Energy . Another popular energy drink, the composition of which differs little from the above. 100 ml of this drink contains 33.81 mg of caffeine. Banned in some countries.

Coffee - at the end of the journey (+20...min.)

Trivial advice? Certainly! But the question is when to drink coffee. This natural psychostimulant has been used since ancient times. But not everyone knows that coffee does not always help. Caffeine (like black or green tea) is not an energy substrate, but only stimulates the body's resources. It is like a fuel additive that temporarily improves certain properties of the fuel. In other words, coffee will invigorate you for only 20-40 minutes (depending on the dose) only if the driver has had a good night's sleep the night before the trip.

And one more thing: caffeine increases the heart rate and constricts blood vessels. Due to this, the pressure increases. But when the effect of caffeine ends, a reverse reaction occurs: the blood vessels dilate, the pressure drops, and drowsiness occurs. So it makes sense to use this technique at the end of the journey, when you know for sure that after half an hour of the journey you will be able to go to bed.

According to
a Ford study conducted in Russia, 32% of drivers surveyed admitted that they fell asleep while driving, while 3.8% of them woke up after a collision or in a ditch.

Is it possible to drink adrenaline rush while driving?

Adrenalin Rush is one of the most popular energy drinks.
It is very loved by those who need a boost. For example, drivers. But is it possible to use it while driving? Let's figure it out.

Adrenalin Rush contains compounds that can force the body to use its energy reserves. At the same time, it does not contain alcohol or other prohibited compounds. Therefore, this drink can replace coffee. And thanks to taurine, guarana and ginseng extract, the effect of its use increases. In addition, the effect of Adrenaline Rush is longer lasting than the effect of drinking coffee.

It must be said right away that you should consume this energy drink no more than 2 cans per day. Moreover, each subsequent jar reduces the effect of the previous one. If you use Adrenalin Rush frequently, you may not see any effect at all. Therefore, it can be used in extreme and rare cases.

IMPORTANT: The manufacturer of this drink states that it contains natural caffeine, unlike other caffeinated drinks and cheap instant coffee. Where is caffeine extracted from tea waste used?

Today there is no ban on using Adrenaline Rush while driving. But you need to understand that the effect of this drink, like other energy drinks, depends on the characteristics of the body. Not long ago, studies were conducted in which five drivers participated. And only three of them showed agitation. For the other two, this drink had a rather negative effect. Nausea and dizziness appeared.

Tonic drinks

Tonic drinks such as hot chocolate, tea, coffee can invigorate the driver for several hours . However, you should know that they affect different people differently. For some drivers, drinking a couple of sips of coffee is enough to cheer them up, while for others, even a liter of chifir may not help.

As for energy drinks, compared to natural drinks, their effect is more active, begins faster and lasts longer. However, remember that they are very harmful to health, so it is not recommended to drink more than three servings per day.

How to cheer up while driving?

Only sleep can prevent falling asleep while driving.
But, unfortunately, not all drivers listen to their body or can do it. According to statistics, most fatal accidents occur due to falling asleep at the wheel.

In most developed countries, a professional driver is prohibited from driving for more than the time established by law. Vehicles are equipped with devices that record the time the driver spends behind the wheel.

The traffic police can access this data at any time and, if it is discovered that the driver has exceeded the established limit, issue a fine to both the road user and the company that owns the car.

In our country, such devices are not installed in cars. Therefore, drivers try to spend as much time behind the wheel as possible. At the same time, they try to cheer themselves up by any available means.

They drink coffee, change the position of the seat so that it is not very comfortable to be in it. It is very helpful to overcome drowsiness, tension and relaxation of various muscles, letting in fresh air from the window, and washing with cold water.

Some products have a tonic effect. For example, oranges and tangerines. Seeds, sweets, crackers and other “trifles” can also help. But here the effect will be given not by the products themselves, but by their consumption.

But, of course, the best remedy for sleep is sleep. Stop for a short rest. A 20-30 minute nap is enough to cheer you up. You can enhance the effect of such a rest with the help of exercises. After which you can get into the car and drive on.

Switch your attention

To avoid dozing off while driving, you need to divert your attention from the monotonous road from time to time..

Change your speed, open the window, pay attention to passing cars, traffic signs, etc. However, there is no need to concentrate attention on the same type of elements (for example, on a “running” line of trees, or a road marking line) - such contemplation can lull you to sleep even faster.

Tips and reviews

Ivan. A truck driver I know told me that if he gets drowsy while driving, he takes water in his mouth and drives. If he falls asleep, the water pours out and he instantly wakes up. Not the best way, but the most effective.

Kirill. There is another effective way. Place your children in the back seat and your grumpy wife in the front seat. We turn on cartoon music and give the children more to drink. Stopping every 20 minutes for natural needs will interrupt any sleep.

The right food is the key to endurance

- I know, I know! Grabbing fast food when you hit the road is convenient, but fat, salt and sugar tire you out. Energy foods consist of complex carbohydrates and proteins that will give you long-lasting endurance. Eat 100% whole grains, not those labeled “contains whole grains.” Eat lean meats, fruits, vegetables - the good stuff! These products will really help you stay awake on the trail. Vitamins B and C also provide energy. But make sure you take them with healthy foods, otherwise your body won't absorb them and you won't realize all their benefits. Continue to snack along the route, even if you've already eaten properly before heading out. Make sure your snacks are healthy. Instead of advertising products rich in fast carbohydrates, it is better to stock up on a bag of almonds for the trip.”

Recipe for Elixir of Vigor

An alternative could be plain water with lemon, vitamin C, ginger or rosehip syrup. And it’s best to prepare fruit juice according to the prescription of doctors from the Urals. Here is the composition of their “energy drink”, which Olga Polyakova shares.

• Rhizome and roots of Eleutherococcus – 10 g.,
• Rose hips – 20 gr.,
• Horsetail grass – 15 g.,
• Chamomile flowers – 15 g.,
• St. John's wort herb – 15 gr.,
• Blueberries – 20 gr.

Mix the berries and medicinal raw materials, place 2 tablespoons of the mixture in a thermos, add 1 liter of hot water or hot berry juice and leave for 5 hours, then filter. We take it on the road as an invigorating and restorative remedy.

This collection is also suitable for drinking in courses to improve performance and combat chronic fatigue. In this case, you should drink it one glass a day in the morning. Course – 10 days. The safety and effectiveness of this product has been tested on young and middle-aged people. But for the elderly and those suffering from chronic diseases, it is better to consult a doctor before using it.

Energy Breathing

A real know-how for car enthusiasts is energy breathing. How to do a breathing exercise while driving that immediately restores vigor, says Lyubov Bogdanova, head of the International Center for the Study and Practice of Conscious Breathing

. “These exercises will help you out on a long journey, or even save your life! - she says. – You need to start breathing rhythmically, without pauses. The breathing rate should be quite high: one respiratory cycle (inhalation and exhalation) per second. The depth of breathing should also be large - the deeper you breathe, the faster you will cheer up. Draw in air through your nose with all your might, and release the exhalation without tension, relaxed (as if you were only inhaling), let your breath work like a pump. Take four of these quick breaths, and then the fifth – a big one: inhale deeply and as completely as possible, and then exhale freely. Let go of everything, you can even make a sound with your voice, let it be such a huge sigh of relief after four active breaths. You have received “five” breaths (four short, the fifth long). Repeat this “five” breaths four times – you get 20 breaths. After a short break, you can perform a cycle of 20 connected breaths again. But under no circumstances do 20 breaths several times in a row. Otherwise, a format of energy breathing will be launched that affects the state of consciousness, and cannot be performed while driving.”

Attention! If you have serious illnesses (hypertension, asthma, etc.), consult your doctor before performing a breathing exercise.