With Hari Raya Aidiladha this year taking place on a Sunday thus making Monday a public holiday, many Malaysians are taking this long weekend opportunity to go back to their hometowns. As with any other national celebrations, many are driving cross-country back, causing slow traffic throughout Malaysia.
If you’re gonna be driving for hours on the road this weekend, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has recently shared the dangers of microsleep on the road and tips to avoid succumbing to it. Posted on its official Facebook page, MOH elaborated that microsleep is a sudden temporary episode of sleep or drowsiness which may last for a few seconds that usually happens when you are driving.
The ministry further asserted that microsleep is extremely dangerous as it could lead to losing control of your vehicle and causing accidents, hence do make sure that you are in optimal condition to drive for long hours. MOH then shared 7 tips so as to avoid microsleep, which is as per below:
- Get enough rest before you start your journey
- Drink sufficient amounts of water
- Don’t drive while you’re sleepy
- Engage in a conversation with someone throughout the journey. If you’re driving alone, do call someone and talk to them on the phone
- If possible, continuously swap driving duties throughout the journey
- Physically move your body while driving
- Stop for a while during the journey to sleep for 15 to 20 minutes
MOH further stressed that microsleeping for even one second could prove to be fatal on the road, so do not take the matter lightly. So, for all of you driving back to your hometowns this weekend, we hope that you have a safe journey ahead and from all of us at WORLD OF BUZZ, we would like to wish Selamat Hari Raya Aidiladha to all Malaysians that are celebrating!
Also read: WATCH: Lorry Crashes Into Several Cars At Johor-Singapore Causeway Causing Massive Pileup