“What to do when you feel…”

While driving we experience many different physical and mental emotions and sensations. Some of these sensations are normal and require simple mediation, while other require greater mediation. In this blog, we will cover a variety of emotions and sensations and how to handle them while you are driving. 

Tired: 91,000 crashes every year are related to drowsy driving. Pull off to a safe location if you feel tired or drowsy while driving. Drinking or consuming caffeine is an okay way to stay awake, but it is not enough. Caffeine can make you think you are more alert than you actually are. Pull off to a safe place and move around, or take a short nap of at least 20 min. If you are traveling at 55 mph in just 3 seconds, you can travel about over 240 feet. 

Scared: If you are scared try and remain calm. Having a little fear going through you as you drive is okay. It will keep you alert and wary of the situation around you. If you become more frightened, pull off into a safe place and rest for a little while. Take some deep breaths and think through the situation that produced the anxiety. If you feel uncomfortable driving anymore, call a friend or trusted individual for a ride home. 

Enraged: If you feel enraged while driving pull off into a safe location immediately. Do not drive mad. This will lead you to make rash decisions that put you and other drivers at risk. To learn more about measures take a look back at blog a blog from February “The Dangers of Road Rage and How to Handle your Emotions when Driving”. 

Happy: This is a good state to be in when driving. Remember to stay level-headed and not get overconfident, however. 

Lightheaded or Dizzy: If you become dizzy or light-headed in any way while you’re driving, the safest thing you can do is stop your vehicle as soon as it’s safe to do so. Dizziness is a symptom of imbalance that can happen for a wide range of reasons. If you experience this symptom while driving or after a long drive, it could be related to the movement of the car and the disconnect between how your body responds. If you experience predictable or consistent dizziness, wait for the sensation to pass or use whatever treatment measures that have been prescribed. If not, make sure you are properly hydrated and fueled. Wait for it to pass or have another driver step in. 

Cold or Hot: If the feelings of hot or cold come on gradually, it can most likely be remedied by adjusting the climate controls in your vehicle or opening or closing the windows. Before you begin driving, learn where and how these controls operate. Adjust the climate controls at a safe time when you are not close to traffic or intersections. If possible, have a passenger adjust the controls for you. 

As we drive we experience far more emotions and sensations than the ones listed above, but for a majority of emotions, the best idea is to pull off the road into a safe location and give yourself some time to come back to level-headedness or normality. If you struggle with any of the emotions, talk with a trusted individual or your driving instructor.