Coffee helps racer be alert

For professional racecar driver and sportscaster, Pia Boren, responsible driving on and off the racetrack isn’t just all about knowing the rules, safety standards or respecting pedestrians and obeying traffic rules. One very important aspect of driving is staying extra alert and keeping one’s focus.

To do the first four is quite easy. You just have to be aware and conscious of them all the time. But keeping focus and staying alert can be difficult especially when you’re tired. So what does she advise motorists do?

Simple: a cup of coffee before taking off on the road, just like she does.

Pia, who likes Nescafé Classic says, “Whether you’re on the race track or just out in the open roads, you have to take coffee before making that drive, especially when you’re tired or sleepy.” 

It’s not enough to be the law-abiding and disciplined motorist, Pia says. She considers coffee drinking as a simple precaution that can actually spell the difference between smooth and reckless driving.

“If you are tired, perhaps from working all day or plainly not having had adequate sleep or rest, you could either push your scheduled trip to a later time or you get your alertness levels up,” she says. 

Pia makes a sound advice. According to www.positively.org, a website that tackles the many benefits of coffee, a warm or even cold cup of this brew can help keep one’s alertness level up.

“Much research has been undertaken to ascertain the most feasible method of alleviating sleepiness among drivers. Some laboratory studies show that relatively low amounts of coffee, 100-200mg, significantly improved alertness in sleepy subjects,” the website confirms. 

But one doesn’t just down that cup and go. The website also strongly advises, based on its wide research, that one also has to take a nap, at least 30 minutes after drinking that cup, before one sets out into the road.

Some might ask how practical this routine can be, especially when one is already out there on the road and still feels drowsy or sleepy. “I personally take Nescafé Classic. It makes everything extremely simple and if you need to take it, all you need to do is stop driving or take a break and make yourself a cup,” Pia advises.

According to Pia, it’s the variant that she brings to racing events or practices. “If it helps me in my races, it certainly can help any driver or motorist out there,” Pia adds.

Professionally, Pia has been driving for seven years. Having done so has given her enough experience on the road to learn from it and know better. She knows the risks that come with ignoring the safety standards.

“In my experience, even the simplest disregard for basic safety standards in driving can be the cause of mishaps. Drinking a cup of coffee might just be the best decision you may make as a motorist,” she stresses.