Easter is a big event on the calendar and road traffic can be hectic. Thankfully we have the police doing their bit to keep us all safe on the roads but you need to do your bit, too.

Lack of sleep impairs your ability to think clearly, delays the ability to make quick decisions and put those decision into actions that could save you and your loved ones from injury or worse on our roads this easter.

As a nurse sleep specialist and creator of Nigh Nigh, I assess and diagnose sleep issues across all ages. What I commonly see is people are not well diagnosed and know nothing about sleep pressure, for example.

Often benzodiazepines like Temazepam is the first action rather than cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) which is highly researched for it’s ability to fix sleep. Regrettably, sleeping pills are not designed to be a long term option and interrupt the second half of sleep and can make you morning drowsy. This means your drive is already threatened and potentially serious or worse, fatal to you or someone else.

If you are planning to drive over easter make sure you are well prepared and well rested beforehand. Leave yourself plenty of time to travel and make sure you stay hydrated with plenty of water. Prepare your stopovers – stretch your legs. Even a 10 minute walk can help you focus better on the task of driving.

Stay calm! Even if you are running late to an event it’s better to arrive late than not at all. Tensions can arise when you feel under pressure. Music can help you stay calm in the car and make the trip more enjoyable.

Stay Safe and Happy Easter!
Deb Herdman
Nurse Sleep Specialist at nighnigh.com.au