DealerFire Multi Site Blogs

We’ve all been there: we’re on a road trip, everyone else in the car is asleep, and we think we’re feeling great. All of a sudden, one yawn becomes two, and the next thing you know, you can hardly keep your eyes open. It seems like it can happen in an instant, but it’s a legitimately dangerous driving situation. So, how can you stay alert when you’re getting tired?

4 Tips For Staying Alert in the Car

Cool Down the Temperature

It may be tempting to wrap ourselves in a cocoon of warmth, but this only makes us more drowsy. Instead, keep things cool in the car. Bring along some of those disposable wet cloths and wipe off your face and neck, which will help you feel more refreshed. If you need, you can roll down the windows and give yourself a quick blast of fresh air. Basically, anything that jolts you awake is ideal.

Bring Some Snacks and Drinks

The main goal with these tips is to keep you alert, and even though food can be somewhat of a distraction, in this case, we’re going with the net good. Energy drinks are an obvious resource, but studies have shown that tangier foods — things that are either sour or spicy — work wonders as well. It also helps to eat your snacks slowly, since it stretches out the timespan that you’re eating. Additionally, you might want to avoid overly sugary foods — beware the famed crash afterward — and instead get snacks that force you into action, such as sunflower seeds.
Read More: Avoiding Driving Distractions

Listen to the Music

You’ll obviously be listening to music, but how do you choose what to jam out to? Some studies have suggested that we should actually listen to music that we hate, since that actually engages our mind more than songs that we like. However, songs that you can sing along to also do the trick, and if you’re the type of person who engages with podcasts or comedy, those sorts of things are good to listen to as well.
Read More: Planning the Perfect Road Trip

Keep Yourself Moving

As we mentioned, a big part of staying alert is keeping active, whether that’s mentally or physically. However, the two are closely related, so keep your eyes moving, shake your hands and arms periodically, or even pull over and run around the car a couple of times. Whatever you’ve got to do to stay awake, go ahead and do it.
Obviously, if nothing works to keep you from fading, then it’s crucial that you get off the road and get some sleep. That said, we hope that these tips keep you alert, and that you’ll come see us soon at Avondale Nissan!