Departing on vacation: what to eat so as not to doze off at the wheel?

Drowsy driving is the leading cause of death on the motorway, with the peak of accidents occurring between 1 and 3 p.m. Gold, “what we eat has consequences on driving and especially on vigilance at the wheel. The Assurance Prévention association decided this year, with Dr. Saldmann, to determine the foods to eat before driving and during the journey, in order to make the holiday route as safe as possible. This promises to be particularly accident-prone during this period of deconfinement”, explains Nathalie Irison, General Secretary of Assurance Prévention.

The ideal meal before hitting the road

“Drivers’ alertness was studied by observing the movement of eyeballs and postures with an infrared box aimed at the driver’s face. These behaviors were filmed and recorded on big data systems. We were thus able to measure the number of risky behaviors according to the type of meal”continues the cardiologist and nutritionist Frédéric Saldmann.

According to experts, the ideal meal before hitting the road should consist of:

• the lowest possible glycemic index to avoid alternating bouts of form, bouts of fatigue (wholemeal pasta and rice, quinoa, apple, tomato, etc.);

• foods that do not require a major digestive effort (green beans, cottage cheese, pineapple, etc.);

• stimulating tastes, such as bitterness and acidity (endive, grapefruit, raspberry, etc.).

Concretely, you can for example eat the following menu before hitting the road:

These foods have a very low glycemic index. They give linear energy and avoid fatigue during digestion. White fish provides protein. A little lemon adds acidity.

Don’t bet it all on the coffee

A meal optimized according to these criteria has been tested by a clinical study. It has proven its effectiveness on drivers’ state of alertness and braking time. “Alertness can be maintained after an optimized 501 calorie meal. It is not only the number of calories that comes into play, but also the quality of the food. There are meals that limit the effect of digestion on alertness while driving, or even reverse it slightly.explains Doctor Frédéric Saldmann.

In addition, driver behavior remains essential for safe driving. It is essential to leave rested and to take regular breaks on the road, at least every 2 hours and at the first signs of drowsiness. Last tip: don’t bet everything on the coffee. Even consumed in high doses, it does not prevent fatigue. Last year, no less than 3,239 people died on the roads of France.