Don't Drive While You're Sleepy
I know it sounds obvious, but some people can’t seem to stay awake when they’re on the road. And drowsy driving is as big a risk as drunk driving! Luckily, there’s something that can help. It’s called a caffeine nap! It was discovered by sleep researchers at the University of Britain at Loughborough.
They did several tests on fatigued drivers to figure out the best methods for staying awake. The researchers put the volunteers in driving simulators while they were sleepy and let them drive. Some of the tests included rolling down windows for cold exposure, blasting the radio and slapping their faces to try to stay awake. But what worked the best was a Caffeine Nap.
What is it? Well, you drink a cup of coffee and immediately take a 15 minute nap. This helps clear your system of adenosine - a chemical which makes you sleepy. In the study, the combination of a cup of coffee with an immediate nap chaser provided the most alertness for the longest period of time. The researchers recommend that you only nap for 15 minutes - no more or less. And you must sleep immediately after the coffee. By the time the caffeine hits your brain, your body’s been tricked into thinking it’s rested, and you’ll be alert and ready to drive! Just drink a glass of water once you wake up to counteract the dehydrating effects of the caffeine.
