What should a driver do if they feel drowsy while driving?

If a driver feels drowsy while driving, the best and safest course of action is to pull over safely and take a break or rest. Drowsiness significantly impairs a person’s ability to operate a vehicle, causing slower reaction times, decreased awareness, and impaired judgment, which can increase the risk of a crash.

Taking a break allows the driver to regain alertness and ensure they are fit to continue their journey. Resting can be as simple as stopping in a safe location to stretch, walk around, or take a short nap, which can refresh the driver and enhance their ability to drive safely afterward.

In contrast, trying to accelerate to reach the destination faster ignores the danger posed by drowsiness and can lead to more severe outcomes, such as falling asleep at the wheel. Ignoring the feeling of drowsiness and continuing to drive puts not only the driver at risk but also passengers and others on the road. Drinking caffeinated beverages may provide a temporary boost in alertness, but it is not a solution to the underlying problem of fatigue and may lead to a crash when the effects wear off. Therefore, pulling over safely and taking a break is the most responsible and effective option to ensure safety while driving.