Many French people will take the road on Saturday and Sunday to reach their vacation spots. If some have decided to leave near their main residence, others will be on the roads for several hours: the day of Saturday has been classified black in the direction of departures by Bison Futé. Like every year, the fatigue and drowsiness of drivers is worrying. They cause one in five accidents on motorways and are the leading cause of death on this network.
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Yawning, back pain, stinging eyes: warning signs
Unfortunately, drowsiness at the wheel is impossible to fight. This will increase over time and distance, without the driver noticing a deviation from the path conducive to the accident.
However, there are some rather simple warning signs to spot, such as increased yawning, needing to change position, tingling eyes, or even lightly crossing over marking lines on the ground. To this can be added pain in the back or neck.
Take regular naps ...
Faced with all these symptoms, on the way, there is no miracle cure: you have to take breaks ... and naps. A recent study by the Vinci Autoroutes Foundation has shown that taking a nap during breaks allows you to recover much more than a simple cigarette break. So don't hesitate to take breaks and sleep for twenty minutes. After 17 straight hours without sleep, the driver's reflexes drop as much as if they had an alcohol level of 0.5 grams per liter in their blood and therefore, inevitably, the risk of an accident increases.
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... and sleep well the day before departure
Driving attitude is important, but so is preparing for the trip. Getting a good night's sleep the day before departure is one thing you can do to reduce the risk of fatigue. Eating a light, alcohol-free meal is also recommended, especially since a heavier meal will promote this downturn which generally occurs between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
As for those who would like to take the road at night to have a clear road, this is not necessarily the best option: it is between two and five in the morning that the most accidents occur. And a thermos of coffee to last despite fatigue? This will allow you to temporarily increase your vigilance. But it won't be necessary to avoid accidents. Anyway, there is no rush when you go on vacation: there is no point in running, you have to leave on time.