The first weekend of July often rhymes with the first departures on vacation. Many French people will take their car to go to their holiday resort this summer, sometimes over long distances. In order to best prepare for this departure, the health columnist of Europe 1, Doctor Jimmy Mohamed, recalls some good reflexes to fight against drowsiness at the wheel, responsible for many accidents each year. Food, rest, signs to observe: here are the tips for riding in complete safety, without taking a nose dive.
“We tend to forget it but a departure by car is preparing: the journey requires fairly sustained attention for many hours. A risk remains: that of drowsiness at the wheel. To be distinguished from simple fatigue, it would be responsible for 20% of traffic accidents in Europe.
Drowsiness results in micro-sleeps of one to four seconds, a time which corresponds, for a speed of 130 kilometers hours, to an additional distance of 140 meters before braking. Not to mention the reflexes which will be slowed down, or even absent. The visual field will also be reduced, like a tunnel.
In order not to find yourself in this situation, you must avoid leaving in the middle of the night or late at night. It is estimated that driving after a sleepless night is as dangerous as driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.9 grams per liter. It is therefore important to get behind the wheel rested, after a good night’s sleep.
Watch out for signs of fatigue
Once in the car, pay attention to signs of fatigue: repeated yawning, eyelid blinking, driver movement. They must be an alert and impose rest. Do not hesitate to take naps, even 10 minutes, much more effective than coffee.
Between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. during the day and between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. at night, your attention should be redoubled, because these are the two times when vigilance is lowest in everyone, regardless of your gender or even your age. Finally, pay attention to the diet: a high calorie meal is associated with more drowsiness at the wheel. “
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