With hotter temperatures hopefully with us for the next few months, a leading road safety organisation has raised the issue of the effects of dehydration and drowsiness while driving.
“People give a lot of consideration to the influence of alcohol and drugs on driving, but virtually no thought at all to dehydration,” said Peter Rodger, chief examiner for the Institute of Advanced Motoring (IAM). “A driver’s reactions and response rates can be severely affected if they are not hydrated properly – don’t let this easily fixable thing ruin your journey.”
Citing recent research by Loughborough University which found drivers who only have 25ml of water an hour made more driving errors, Mr Rodger advised drivers to keep a bottle of water with them on journeys and take a drink when stopped in a safe place to do so. For journeys of over two hours, a 15 minute break -even if you think it is unnecessary - will help you stay refreshed and alert. The IAM further advocates the importance of a good night’s sleep before making an early start, as driving when you would normally be asleep significantly raises the risk of sleep-relating accidents.
If you feel tired on motorway drives, avoid relying on cruise control as the reduction of input into driving increases the likelihood of you losing concentration or nodding off. Taking a short sleep break at a motorway service station will help, or sharing the driving if possible.
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