Exercises You Can Do to Beat Road Fatigue

DRIVER fatigue can be attributed to a number of causes but the most common and important is a lack of sleep ­ and there is no replacement for sleep, according to Durban chiropractor, Dr Vilash Boodhoo.

He lists the following as fatigue signs:

• Drowsiness or yawning

• A lack of concentration

• A failure to notice things on the side of the road

• Inability to drive in a straight line

• Irritability

"The most effective way of overcoming road fatigue is to sleep. Even small naps of between 20 and 40 minutes will refresh you for a while. Swap drivers so that you can have turns sleeping. You can also speak to your pharmacist or doctor for a prescription such as caffeine to help keep you awake," says Dr Boodhoo. 

"During long trips, remember to rest every two hours. Plan your journey around rest stations. During this time you can perform some of these exercises to improve your breathing and therefore your alertness." 

• Repetitive flexing and relaxing of the calf muscles help to improve circulation by aiding the flow of blood back to the heart. This can be done by circling the ankles and shifting your weight from one thigh to the other

• Maintaining a good posture while driving is one of the most important things, as it will aid the flow of fresh air into your lungs so that you remain alert. Sit upright. Keep the shoulders and arms relaxed and the legs flexed to about 45 degrees

• Once the journey becomes monotonous, the mind becomes fatigued. Keep changing the music. Even turn it off for a while. Open the windows. Travel with someone to talk to. Keep yourself well hydrated. These will help, but they are not cures

"The above will work for a limited time. Eventually you will have to rest. I suggest that these exercises be used only in emergencies," Dr Boodhoo cautions.

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