Can you catch 40 winks in 20 minutes? Whether it’s the mid afternoon slump or early evening snooze, it’s all the rage. For my old man it was just a sign of, well, becoming an old man. But times have changed. The power nap suddenly has street cred and did you know that it could even save your life…
In a recent report by the RSA, they attribute 20% of all road deaths to driver tiredness. That is a large number. The shock experienced by the impact of a crash must be terrifying as the driver does not have any time to brace themselves for the impending crash. You crash and your lights go out.
Driving when fresh and alert is the best way of driving safely. The chances of you becoming another road death stat are minor. This obvious fact still does not prevent people from getting in their cars and driving home exhausted from work. This is very dangerous for you and other drivers on the road.
Once your eyes start getting heavy in the car then you are in trouble. Turning up the radio, rolling down the windows or pulling over and stretching your legs will only have a temporary effect. The underlying problem will reappear quickly and you will once again become a danger on the road.
The only thing to do is to stop at a safe place, lock your doors and windows and have a strong cup of coffee. It takes at least 20 minutes for the caffeine to kick in, so try to pack in a power nap. Any longer and you might wake up groggy. This is still not ideal by any stretch of the imagination. But the alternative is a nightmare you might never wake from.
The August bank holiday weekend is fast approaching and this means busy road and dangerous driving. In Ireland, the RSA and Topaz run a ‘driver reviver’ campaign to help avoid accidents through tiredness. It involves giving out free coffee at their petrol stations. You should take advantage of this offer and keep yourself alert on the road.
The main thing when you get into a car is to arrive home safely. The consequences of falling asleep at the wheel are very severe. So try to take extra care on bank holiday weekends.
AXA car insurance Ireland provide comprehensive insurance to help protect you against fatigue related accidents. Buy the cheapest motor insurance in Ireland online today.
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