SmartTalk
Smart living for smart
drivers
As a smart driver, you understand the importance of maintaining the equipment that you drive but you should also take steps
to maintain your health, ensure a proper state of mind, and
supply your body with the fuel that it needs.
If you’re fatigued, you won’t be able to anticipate the actions of
others around you. Alcohol, prescription drugs, over-the-counter
drugs, and even the
combination of different
types of medication can all
affect your reaction time.
And don’t forget to monitor
your emotional state. An
aggressive attitude leads
to frustration, which can
compound aggressive
behaviour at the wheel.
Choose the best fuel
What you eat can affect
how you feel, how you
heal and your energy
levels and weight.
Canada’s Food Guide
shows that adults should
consume 5–12 servings
of grains, 5–10 servings
of vegetables and fruit,
2–4 servings of milk
products, and 2–3 servings
of meat or alternatives
during the day.
It’s also important to avoid
greasy foods and drink at
least 8, 8-ounce glasses of water every day. Coffees, teas, and
colas may offer you a quick short-term buzz, but they are also
diuretics that will increase kidney activity and could lead to
dehydration. This can stress your heart, increase your body
temperature and pulse rate, and give you a headache.
Protect your body
Regular stretching exercises can help prevent painful muscle
spasms and fatigue. But you should also take the time to adjust
all your vehicle settings before beginning a trip. Move the seat
so that your knees sit slightly higher than your hips, and adjust
your headrest so it doesn’t push your head forward when
you’re sitting upright. And be sure to remove the wallet from
your hip pocket, which can apply unwelcome pressure to the
nerves in your legs.
3
Adopt a 3-point exit strategy
When it’s time to leave your vehicle, ensure that you always
have one hand and two feet, or two hands and one foot, in
contact with the vehicle. Don’t simply jump to the sidewalk or
street. This sudden stress can be particularly damaging after
you’ve been sitting for an extended period of time.
Get 7 to 8 hours of sleep per day
Most adults require 7 to 8 hours of quality sleep every day.
Take the steps to prepare your environment for a proper rest.
Set the thermostat below 21°C, find a dark room with few distractions, and consider using ear plugs or relaxing music if you
need to block out noise.
You should also be aware
that a small amount of
caffeine can keep some
people from falling asleep
as long as 12 hours after
consumption, so never
consume it before trying to
sleep. And while alcohol
may help you fall asleep, it
will increase the number of
times you wake up in the
latter half of your sleep.
(Too much of any beverage
will wake you up to
urinate.)
Since heartburn can make
it difficult to fall asleep, or
can wake you up in the
middle of the night, avoid
eating large meals just
before bedtime, or tomatobased products and spicy
foods that can lead to
heartburn.
Summary:
Smart living for smart drivers
• Eat right and drink 8 glasses of water per day;
follow Canada’s Food Guide.
• Avoid caffeine, which can affect sleep up to
12 hours later.
• Protect your body: take time to stretch, adjust the
seat so your knees sit higher than your hips.
• Use a 3-point exit: keep 1 hand and 2 feet,
or 2 hands and 1 foot in contact with the vehicle.
• Get 7 to 8 hours of sleep per day; avoid
distractions, caffeine, alcohol and spicy foods.
SmartTalk
• Eat right and drink 8 glasses of water
per day; follow Canada’s Food Guide.
• Avoid caffeine, which can affect sleep
up to 12 hours later.
• Protect your body: take time to
stretch, adjust the seat so your knees
sit higher than your hips.
Smart living for smart drivers
3
• Use a 3-point exit: keep 1 hand and
2 feet, or 2 hands and 1 foot in contact
with the vehicle.
• Get 7 to 8 hours of sleep per day;
avoid distractions, caffeine, alcohol
and spicy foods.