Travel Tips: Staying Awake While Driving - Yahoo Voices - voices.yahoo.com

Taking a road trip is fun and full of adventures. The driving part of road trips on the other hand is not very fun and shouldn't be full of adventures, in fact the less "adventures" you have while driving the better. Many times during a road trip you are forced to drive in conditions that you may normally not drive in. Many times while travelling people do not sleep well or at all. Functioning on little or no sleep may be fine if you are flying, but driving is another story. If you planning a road trip here are five tips you need to know to help you stay awake behind the wheel:

Eat sunflower or pumpkin seeds. Chewing on sunflower or pumpkin seeds keeps your mind and your mouth busy, which helps you stay awake. It's a lot harder to fall asleep if you are busy munching away on seeds then it is when you are staring at the dotted lines on the road.

Turn the heat off. A warm cozy car is the ideal place to curl up and take a nap, but not if you are the driver of that car travelling 75 miles down the freeway. You are less likely to doze off if you are a little chilly then if you are nice and toasty. It may be a little uncomfortable to keep the car cooler, but avoiding a crash is worth it.

Play a game. I know what you're thinking, but playing the right kind of game can keep you alert and focused on the road. For example, playing the license plate game or the question game with your passengers can allow you to keep your eyes on the road and your body awake.

For those of you who don't know how to play the license plate game or the question game here is a brief over view of each game. The license plate game can be played a few ways, the first way is to watch cars around and try to find a license plate from each state. The second way to play is to try to form words out of the letters on license plates that pass by. The third way is to use the last three letters on the license plate to form words. The person with the most words wins. For example: if the license plate ends with the letters T. I. L. one player may say "until" and another player may say "versatile" and so on.

The question game is where one person asks someone else a question and the other person has to answer. The catch is that the person asking the question must answer too. If you are travelling with people you don't know well, this is a great "get to know you" game.

Take frequent breaks. Taking a break and getting out of the car to stretch and walk around may make your travel time longer, but can be a nice relief when you are feeling tired. It gives your body more energy and keeps you awake longer.

Take the car off of cruise control and open the window. We use cruise control so we don't have to focus on maintaining speed. By taking the car off of cruise control you are forced to pay closer attention to your speed, keeping your mind busy on that can keep it from dozing off. Also, open the window let the breeze blow on your face. Even if it is cold outside the constant air on your face can help you stay alert.

Drinking enough water can also help you stay awake, especially because it's a lot harder to fall asleep if you have to use the restroom frequently. It may sound silly but falling asleep at the wheel isn't a joke. Pulling over to take a quick nap on the side of the road by also be an option, just make sure you lock your doors.

Many people think that they are "experienced" drivers and will be fine to drive if they are tired, but even the most experienced driver can fall asleep. Be careful and use caution on the road.