STAYING AWAKE AT THE WHEEL

SUMMER weekend getaways and family vacations mean lots of time at the wheel, sometimes covering long distances, other times simmering in long traffic jams. Sometimes, the toughest part of the drive is staying awake.

Driver inattention is the leading cause of accidents, as many as six million accidents a year nationwide, and many of those are caused by drivers falling asleep at the wheel.

Last year, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety sponsored research to find out which are the best and most effective stay-awake techniques. There were some surprises.

Taking a break to stretch your legs by walking around and rolling your neck and shoulders, or exercise such as jumping jacks or playing rest stop Frisbee with the kids or the dog, does work, but only for a brief time. The effects wear off within a half hour. Drinking something with caffeine also will restore wakefulness and alertness, also for about one-half hour, not longer.

The experts found that many other traditional stay awake techniques do not work even that long, that their effects wear off in a brief moment or two. These include rolling down the window, eating a sugar-laden candy bar, or turning the radio up really loud.

A sudden blast of fresh air or an energy-boosting snack can help get you to the next exit, but it won’t sustain you if the rest of your trip is still a long way down the road. Turning up the radio or CD can cause enough discomfort among your passengers to start a distracting argument.

Actually, the researchers did find that exercise and caffeine work, but only after a brief nap. The reason caffeine improves your alertness in the morning is because your brain’s receptors are ready for that kind of stimulation, and even a brief 15-minute nap is enough to make your brain welcome a java jolt.

The biggest danger of drowsiness is that sleepy drivers do not even know they are sleepy. Scientists call it microsleep. It is a short, involuntary dozing. You may even feel as though you are blinking your eyes really, really, slowly. But microsleep could be enough to cause an accident, particularly at highway speeds.

You can avoid driving drowsy by better trip planning. Get a good night’s sleep before a long drive. Of course, that’s easier at the start of a trip than after an activity-filled weekend or holiday. Avoid driving between midnight and dawn, when your body is used to sleeping and when it will demand sleep. Avoid driving in mid-afternoon, the so-called “siesta zone,” when those same natural rhythms slow us down, too. Try to have a second driver for long trips.

Trip planning includes being sure your vehicle is prepared, too. Change your engine oil and filter, check fluid levels including brakes, radiator and windshield wipers. Check the blades, too, since finding out in the middle of a blinding thunderstorm that they don’t work is too late.

Sleepy drivers are dangerous drivers. Listen to your body. If your mind is drifting, so will your vehicle. If you are yawning or have to pull your eyelids open after each blink, pull over. Don’t drive if you have been drinking, and be aware of medications, such as allergy medications, that can cause drowsiness.

Actually, pulling over is also good for the car, giving it a chance to cool down and less likely to overheat.