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  • How to Stay Awake while Driving. You don’t change lanes in bed, so you shouldn’t sleep

  • while youre driving. Here’s how to stay alert. You will need Cup of coffee Some chewing

  • gum and audio book (optional) (optional). Step 1. At the first sign of drowsiness, pull

  • over immediately and drink a cup of coffee. Step 2. Don’t get right back on the road;

  • caffeine boosts a driver’s reaction times, but it takes 30 minutes to kick in. Instead,

  • park someplace safe, lock your doors, and take a quick half-hour nap. Step 3. When you

  • do get going again, roll down your windows. If it’s cold outside, all the better -- it’s

  • harder to nod off when youre uncomfortable. And don’t crank the heat --the warm air

  • can lull you to sleep. Stay three car lengths behind the car ahead of you; this will give

  • you some room for error if you do happen to doze off for a second. Step 4. While you drive,

  • sit up straight and keep your eyes moving. Hunching forward decreases the amount of oxygen

  • that can fit in the lungs, and staring at a fixed distance slows down brain activity.

  • Step 5. Choose spearmint or peppermint gum -- its minty scent stimulates the vagus nerve,

  • providing a jolt to the nervous system. Step 6. Play road games -- with yourself! I Spy,

  • which forces you to notice your surroundings, and the License Plate Game, which makes you

  • focus on small letters and numbers, boost mental functioning and reduce eye fatigue.

  • Step 7. Sing along to your favorite CDs. It switches up your breathing patterns, boosts

  • circulation, floods oxygen to the brain, and -- if you like the song -- increases feel-good

  • endorphins. If youre not a fan of your own voice, listen to audio books instead.

  • A study found they make drivers more alert than just listening to music. Step 8. If all

  • else fails, find a safe spot to get out of the car and walk around. Moving your body

  • revs up circulation and brain activity, which shakes off fatigue. Who knows? You may already

  • be where youre going. Did you know Thirty-seven percent of drivers admit falling asleep at

  • least once behind the wheel.

How to Stay Awake while Driving. You don’t change lanes in bed, so you shouldn’t sleep

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