| Perry couldn't control his excitement. He had just | | | | -avoid alcohol or medicines that make you sleepy. The |
| coached his son's little league team to a city | | | | same applies to heavy meals. |
| championship, and the adrenaline was pumping through | | | | -drive with a passenger who will sit in the front seat |
| his system. He went to bed but couldn't sleep. At 11 | | | | and stay awake. |
| p.m. he rousted his family from bed to inform them | | | | -keep the car cool and well ventilated. |
| they were leaving on their Florida vacation then and | | | | -dab your face with a wet cloth, or apply a cold pack |
| there. The car was packed. Why waste time | | | | to your neck. |
| sleeping? His wife and kids grumbled as they climbed | | | | -shift your head often to change your focus and line of |
| into the car and promptly fell asleep. Around three | | | | sight. |
| o'clock Perry came back down to Earth as a mortal | | | | -turn on the radio to provocative talk radio or music |
| man. He dozed off, and the car slipped onto the | | | | you dislike; or sing, whistle, or talk aloud. |
| shoulder. Fortunately, he hit a band of rumble strips and | | | | -wear sunglasses to avoid glare. |
| immediately snapped back to alertness. He pulled into | | | | * Coffee or soft drinks will not keep you awake. They |
| a well-lighted rest area and slept soundly until sunrise. It | | | | can help you feel more alert, but the effects last only a |
| turned out to be a wonderful vacation. | | | | short time. |
| A vacation brings out the little kid in all of us, but that | | | | * If you feel drowsy, don't push yourself. Change |
| doesn't mean we have to act irresponsibly. Before | | | | drivers, or find a well-lit place with plenty of people |
| charging off on your driving vacation, consider these | | | | around (not the shoulder of the highway) to stop and |
| few suggestions: | | | | take a brief nap. Roll down the window enough to |
| Plan Ahead | | | | allow fresh air in, but not a hand. Lock your doors. Turn |
| * Keep your car in tip-top shape. Have your mechanic | | | | off the engine, but keep parking lights lit. |
| check the cooling system, tires and wiper blades. | | | | * Before resuming travel, get out of the car, stretch |
| Carry a roadside emergency kit. | | | | and make sure you are fully awake. |
| * Before leaving, explain the importance of good | | | | * Night time is not the only dangerous period. Almost |
| behavior and seat belt use. | | | | everyone's biological clock is programmed to make |
| * Study new routes carefully. | | | | them feel sleepy between one and four p.m. |
| * Stay five seconds behind the car in front to allow | | | | If You Break Down |
| time to react to an emergency. | | | | * In an emergency, turn on your flashers and steer to |
| * Turn your radio off in heavy traffic or unfamiliar | | | | the right shoulder, even if a flat tire bends your rim. |
| locations. | | | | * Get out of the car carefully. Stay off the road. Don't |
| * Try to avoid driving at night. | | | | stand behind your car or between cars. |
| * Do not drive more than 10 hours in a day. | | | | * Raise the hood, put on the emergency flasher lights |
| Asleep At The Wheel | | | | and attach a white cloth to the door handle or radio |
| The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration | | | | antenna. |
| estimates that sleepiness contributes to 100,000 | | | | * To fix a flat tire, go to the next exit or a well-lit |
| accidents and 1,500 fatalities each year. Sleepiness | | | | parking lot. Get away from traffic, even if your tire is |
| slows reaction times, decreases awareness, and | | | | ruined. |
| impairs judgment. | | | | * If someone stops to help, politely ask him to phone |
| * To help prevent drowsiness: | | | | the police. |
| -get a good night's sleep before you travel. | | | | * If you have a cell phone, call for help immediately. Do |
| -make planned stops every two hours or 100 miles. | | | | not work on your car alone in the dark. |