Danger signs for fatigue

Drowsiness can sneak up on you when you're driving. For teenagers, driving late at night, between eleven p.m. and two a.m. is particularly dangerous for falling asleep at the wheel. Here are some signs to watch for--and do something about before you run into a tree or another car.

• Yawning a lot
• Having trouble keeping eyes open
• Not being able to concentrate
• Not remembering the last few minutes or seconds
• Jerking of your head or body from the brink of falling asleep
• Car wanders from the road or into another lane

What to do:

1. Slow Down
2. Pull off road into a safe parking space like a rest aea . Lock the doors and take a nap.  The National Sleep Foundation recommends that you take a nap for 15-45 minutes.
3. Make a pit stop, use the bathroom and get a Coke or coffee to drink--it takes about 30 minutes for the effects are felt.
4. Call home if you can.
5. Talk to a passenger if you have one

While the ideas below may help for a few minutes, they could be dangerous because they won't keep you awake for long if you're very tired.

1. Turn radio to a lively station, try singing
2. Roll down window and get some fresh air for a few minutes, or turn vent on full blast

Someone from Australia wrote me that they have "Driver Reviver" stops over there for people who've been driving for more than two hours . Drivers get a chance to take a break with free coffee or tea and a Kitkat bar. Sounds like something states ought to try on our interstate highways.

The best way to prevent getting drowsy while driving is to get a good night’s sleep the night before your trip or take a nap before you leave.