Can you catch 40 winks in 20 minutes? Whether it’s the mid afternoon slump or early evening snooze, it’s all the rage. For my old man it was just a sign of, well, becoming an old man. But times have changed. The power nap suddenly has street cred and did you know that it could even save your life…
The RSA reports that driver fatigue could be a contributory factor in 1 in 5 deaths in Ireland. Can you imagine the horrific impact here? Your body is limp and asleep and therefore you make no last second evasive move. Just bang and the lights go out for good.
The only way to combat this fatigue is not to drive when you’re feeling knackered. It’s common sense really. But common sense is often left behind in amongst the carnage after people lumber into their cars after a bad night’s sleep or a tough day in the office.
And if you are out on the road, with nobody to take over the wheel, bear in mind that the old tricks of winding down the window, turning up the radio or even stopping to stretch your legs are all good ideas that might momentarily perk you up but eventually the eye lids will pick up an unbearable weight again.
The only thing to do is to stop at a safe place, lock your doors and windows and have a strong cup of coffee. It takes at least 20 minutes for the caffeine to kick in, so try to pack in a power nap. Any longer and you might wake up groggy. This is still not ideal by any stretch of the imagination. But the alternative is a nightmare you might never wake from.
With the June bank holiday almost upon us, the roads will be a dangerous and busy place over the weekend. So it’s great to see the RSA and Topaz once again promoting their ‘Driver Reviver’ campaign’. Free coffee will be available at over 100 outlets on this Friday so please avail of the service if you’re planning a long road trip (terms & conditions may apply).
AXA urges everyone to please take care on Irish roads this June bank holiday weekend – arrive home safely.
Brought to you by AXA Car Insurance Ireland