Clock changes, whether it’s to spring forward in March or to fall back and gain an hour of sleep — like this upcoming Sunday — always see to throw off biorhythms. And that’s a safety concern.
It may sound counterintuitive to think of drowsy driving at this time of year, but AAA Kansas Manager of Public and Government Affairs Shawn Steward says it’s entirely possible.
Steward says the goal is to get at least seven hours of sleep if you plan to be on the road. Also, drivers should travel when they are normally awake, avoid heavy foods and avoid prescriptions that may make them sleepy. Longer trips — 100 miles or more — should have drivers taking breaks every two hours and an alert passenger who can take over behind the wheel if needed.
Drowsy driving safety tips from AAA
Tips to Avoid Drowsy Driving
*Get plenty of sleep – at least 7 hours a night
*Travel at times of the day when you are normally awake
*Avoid heavy foods
*Avoid medications that cause drowsiness or other impairment
Tips to Avoid Drowsy Driving for Longer Trips
*Schedule a break every two hours or every 100 miles.
*Travel with an alert passenger and take turns driving.
*Pull into a rest stop and take a quick catnap — at least 20 minutes and no more than 30 minutes of sleep – to help to keep you alert on the road.
Tips for Nighttime Driving
*Reduce speed and increase following distances. It is more difficult to judge other vehicles’ speeds and distances at night.
*Turn on headlights to see better during dawn and dusk and to be more visible to other drivers.
*Make sure headlights, tail lights and signal lights are working properly
*Keep lights and car windows (inside and out) clean for best visibility
*Have headlights properly aimed. If not properly aimed, headlights will blind other drivers and reduce your ability to see the road.
*When following another vehicle, keep your headlights on low beams so you don’t blind the driver ahead of you.
