Dozing off behind the wheel? A short nap is the way to go

Most of us have been there at one time or another. We settle in behind the wheel, prepared to drive for hours on end. Then, an hour or two into the trip, we realize we’re struggling to stay awake.

Drowsy driving doesn’t receive the same kind of attention as texting and other forms of distracted driving, but it’s a very real concern. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says drowsy driving is to blame in some 100,000 crashes each year.

So, what should you do if your eyes start to get heavy?

According to DMEautomotive, a science-based automotive marketing company, most drivers do all the wrong things.

Sadly, most of these stay-awake strategies simply don’t work. Switching drivers (No. 3 on the above list) and pulling over to sleep (No. 7) are the only two options supported by medical evidence and safety experts. And, those in the know say caffeine (No. 1) is a temporary fix that is far less effective than a mid-trip snooze.

Bottom line? Pull over and drift into dreamland. Even a short nap will help you reenergize!