You might not often think that health habits affect your driving, but it is a valuable perspective to consider. Think about what you’re doing while you’re driving. You have to concentrate on the road. You have to focus on not being distracted. You have to be awake enough that you can react quickly in case something happens that you have to avoid. If you generally don’t feel right or are in some other sort of an altered state, that will affect your ability to drive as well. So you can see where health does come into play.
A few good health habits will come to mind right away as you’re pondering this relationship. First, you should never drink and drive. This can viably be considered a healthy habit. Second, don’t drive when you’re sleepy. Make sure to get enough rest regularly before you go on the road. Next, make sure there are snacks available in your car. Some people get angry when they get hungry, which can potentially lead to a road rage incident. And finally, it is a health habit to turn all of your notifications on do not disturb when you’re driving. Distracted driving is almost worse than drunk driving as far as reaction times and the potential for accidents.
Don’t Drink and Drive
Don’t drink and drive. That is the entire crux of that health habit. If you’re going out to a restaurant or bar or a friend’s house, don’t drink enough that it will impair your driving. Don’t drink enough that the police can pull you over. Don’t drink enough that there is any chance that you will cause an accident at all. Be responsible, and you will never have a problem with this kind of situation.
Don’t Drive When You’re Sleepy
Do you know how many bad things can happen if you drive while you’re tired? Even if you blink for longer than a second, if you’re moving at fast speeds, you can easily go off the road or hit someone who is braking ahead of you. There is research to suggest that driving while fatigued is almost the same as having a certain amount of alcohol in your system when it comes to reaction times. Pull over if you have to, but don’t force yourself to stay on the road if you’re tired.
Have Snack Available in the Vehicle
Keep snacks in your car. You don’t want to rage at someone on the road because you are hungry. Ideally, you’ll stay away from unhealthy snacks as well. Instead of having soda and french fries, have a bag of carrots and some water or some juice. You can always drink coffee to stay awake or satisfy your appetite, as long as you don’t overdo it.
Set Your Notifications To Not Disturb You
When you are driving, don’t let your phone beep. Don’t let your phone buzz. Don’t let your phone ring. One of the healthiest habits that you can have while you are driving is to turn off all of your notifications. You will survive not knowing what the latest update is until you get somewhere to stop.