Tips for Tired Drivers: How to Avoid Falling Asleep Behind the Wheel

Category: Our Blog

Accidents can be caused by a multitude of factors and many of these may result in you filing a claim on your Houston auto insurance. One of the leading causes of crashes is drivers falling asleep at the wheel. According to the 1997 Fatigue, Alcohol and Performance Impairment study by Dr. D. Dawson and Dr. K. J. Reid, after 17 hours of being awake, the average individual’s reaction time is similar to a person with a blood alcohol level of .05 percent. So how can you reduce your chances of drifting off while driving?

  • Try to get enough sleep. The website of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke says the average adult needs around eight hours of sleep per night.
  • When you start to feel drowsy, consider pulling over to a parking lot or the side of the road to take a short nap.
  • It may be a good idea to avoid driving between 1 PM to 3 PM and 12 AM to 6 AM. These are the usual times when our bodies naturally try to rest.
  • Plan to take a break about every two hours or 100 miles. A quick stop for gas or food may be enough to wake you up for the next stretch of driving.

By avoiding driving while you are tired, you may be able to reduce your chances of being in a collision. Not all drivers will follow this sensible advice so be sure to protect yourself financially by keeping up-to-date with your Houston auto insurance.

 

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