There’s nothing better than being a passenger on a road tripDriving lulls you to sleep, But why is it like that Driving makes people so damn scary? A 2018 study by RMIT University Australia found that the natural vibrations we experience in moving vehicles makes people sleepier in just 15 minutes. The next time someone annoys you because you fell asleep in the car, you can tell them that it’s a normal reaction to the natural vibrations of a moving vehicle. Same vibrations too have an impact on the driver of the vehicle, which is of course more worrying.
These vibrations can make healthy, well-rested people feel sleepy after just 15 minutes, and the effects increase over time. Parents of young children will be pleased to know that these vibrations also affect children, which explains why some children faint after being strapped into their car seats. My mother tells me that as a small child I refused to take a nap until they drove me around in the car and that I would wake up as soon as we got home. Sorry mom, I was just enjoying the low frequency vibrations that come from sitting in a moving vehicle.
The vibrations are accompanied by the background noise or white noise of the tire noise. engine noise, and wind noise create the perfect circumstances to lull most people into a peaceful sleep. All of these sensations combine to mimic the circumstances in the womb, drawing on the impulses of our ancestors and making us feel confident about catching a few zzz’s. The RMIT study tested a small group of 15 people on one specialized simulator which in one case vibrated with low frequencies between 4 and 7 Hz, and in one case without vibration. Volunteers began showing signs of sleepiness within 15 minutes of riding the vibration simulator, and after 30 minutes, most participants showed significant signs of sleepiness, peaking at 60 minutes. Sleepiness was measured in the test by recording participants’ heart rate variability, or HRV.
To prevent you from falling victim to the soporific effects of riding in a moving vehicle, Psychology today recommends exposing yourself to direct sunlight or taking small doses of it before driving caffeine Repeat 15-20 minutes before the start of your road trip and every two hours while driving. Personally, I love playing music that I can sing or dance to safely, or opening the windows to add some variety. Taking breaks to get out of the car and move your body can also help break up the monotony of a long drive.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or NHTSA It is estimated that 91,000 police-reported crashes in the United States in 2017 were linked to drowsy drivers. The NHTSA recommends drinking one or more accidents two cups of coffee before stopping in a safe, well-lit place to take a short 20-minute nap if you feel sleepy behind the wheel, because studies show that short naps increase alertness, but only for short periods of time. Driving while drowsy is very risky, and since the natural vibrations of vehicles increase fatigue, you should err on the side of caution and stop briefly to take a nap.