Safe Driving with Driverthink

Over the years I have read countless articles, tips and suggestions about what to do when you’re driving and you start to feel drowsy.  Most of them are the typical excellent ideas.  For myself, however, since way back when the ink was still dripping off of my brand new driver’s license, I’ve followed a simple, basic rule.  It has always kept me alert and very much alive.  I drive the car!

Now there’s driving a car and then there’s driving a car.

If I’m slogging down a lonely highway somewhere around midnight, and haven’t had a break in what seems like forever, I’m likely to be getting a little punch drunk.  The miles are whizzing by under my butt.  The cruise control has been dictating my speed for the last hundred miles or two.  With luck I’ve had to adjust the steering wheel by maybe a huge ten degrees to keep my little buggy on the road and somewhere within my lane.

There haven’t been any exciting events to terrorize me for at least two hours, and my mind’s beginning to wander as the eyelids grow ever heavier.  Maybe I should give them a break.  I’ll let the right one close while the left one stands watch.  Then I’ll switch them for awhile. 

Am I really driving the car? 

Well, technically yes.  Since cars still don’t actually drive themselves, I suppose I could say that I’m driving.  I’m the one still managing to keep it on the road.  But actually – I’m not driving the car.

The car is driving me.  I’m like the baby being driven around the block a few times by Da Da to put it to sleep – and its working!  My body is way too secure, by brain is serene and sleep can come easily.  The only problem?  At this particular moment in time, sleeping could quite suddenly become my permanent occupation.

So how do I shake the cobwebs?  I retake control of the car.  I start driving it.

Off goes the cruise control.  I want back command of my gas pedal.  I may want to pedal slower or faster but any pedaling by me, is going to be better than letting the car pedal itself.

Let’s get a better grip on the wheel, too.  That pinky finger that’s drooping over the wheel isn’t going to cut it when I take back the car.  It may be a straight-arm 10-2 or a bent elbow 3-7 but there’s a gentle curve up there and I’m gonna’ make it interesting.  It’s a lonely road, so I’m going to bleed power, cut the apex and then power out.  That should get some juices flowing — and there’s no better “wake up call” than a few exciting juices.

Let’s drive the pylons for awhile, too.  Let’s focus on staying centered in the lane.  It requires a little more attention than simply drifting along somewhere on the pavement.  Maybe I’ll do a lane change or two.  I’m not going to be swerving in and out of lanes, but I may set up a pass, then gently move back into the right lane.  Or I may drop back for awhile and then pick it up again – vary my speed.

My senses are starting to come alive again.  I’m feeling those tires work the road.  I’m checking for road hazards.

"Is that a deer in the road up there?"  Nope, but it could happen.  Might want to keep an eye out for antlers.

Ahhh!  Now I’m driving the car again.  I’m feeling it.  I’m working the suspension.  I’m working the speed, the steering and I’m back in control.  I’m awake again.  But wait!  Now the traffic is slowing.

It could also be those eyelids are acting like anchors because I’m in heavy, slow or no-go traffic.  Nothing can be much more boring, and once I’ve been there awhile, the lids can start to lose it.  But I still want to be driving the car.

I may not be doing doughnuts but I’m gauging the traffic.  Is that a “Stop on my Tail-Gater” behind me?  Might want to “lane switch” out of his way and watch him heckle someone else for awhile.  “Hmm.  That gal two cars in front of me is working with a defective Stop Calculator”.  Better allow her more room for the herky jerky stops she’s making – five car lengths behind the car in front of her.

There’s nothing more boring (and tiring) than loafing a car down the road.  But it’s always a kick to drive the car, putting it exactly where you want it to be –when you want it to be there – for all the right reasons.  And that “kick” – works really great on lazy lids. 

Feeling sorta' drowsy?  Settle in, refocus — and Drive the car!

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