Did you know that sleep apnea is a major issue for truck drivers? Sleep apnea is a factor in a percentage of accidents but as you know it can be preventable. That is why we want to provide some helpful tips that can help you stay alert while you are behind the wheel.
Tips for the Drowsy Driver:
- Make sure you get enough sleep before you head out.
- Take a nap if you need to.
- Don’t drive at night.
- Know the signs.
Make sure you get enough sleep before you head out.
When you know your schedule you are able to plan your sleep. Before you head out on your next trip make sure you get enough rest, even if that means taking another nap before you leave. Your body needs to rest and you can’t ignore the signs just because you think you can make it without additional sleep.
Take a nap if you need to.
It doesn’t matter if you have to stop at a rest area if it’s time for a quick refresher don’t be afraid to take a nap. The ideal nap is between 30 – 45 minutes. Did you know that a nap will do your body better than caffeine? It’s true.
Don’t drive at night.
The dark skies can leave your body feeling drowsy. Don’t take any chances of driving drowsy just because you enjoy the open road. Get to bed as soon as you can and then once you are rested you can get back out on the road.
Know the signs.
If you’ve driven any amount of time at all you know when your body is tired. You may yawn, your eyes may start to get fuzzy, and you may have other symptoms like body stiffness. Whatever the case may be for you it is important that you listen to your body and stop to get your needed rest before venturing any farther.
Fatigue will always be a factor for truckers and if you don’t feel like you can properly manage your driver drowsiness you may want to consider speaking with your doctor for more information. This will help ensure that you don’t cause an accident due to something that could have been prevented with enough sleep.
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