Summer is starting and soon thousands of Slovaks will set off on their summer vacation. A large part of them will be vacationing in Slovakia, so hundreds of kilometers on the road await them. If you are one of them, do not forget to plan in advance not only the route, but also regular breaks during the journey. Tiredness behind the wheel worsens reactions, attention and the ability to correctly evaluate situations on the road. The best solution is simple: stop before the body begins to protest in full.

A good break doesn’t have to mean just a quick toilet or takeaway coffee. Today, more and more drivers find a place to rest, have quality food or a short stretch at gas stations.

So how do you get the most out of your break?

1. Don’t wait until you’re on the edge

The biggest mistake on a long route is the idea of ​​”I’m still going to pull it”. However, fatigue often comes unnoticed. More frequent yawning, poorer concentration, nervousness or the feeling that you don’t remember much from the last few kilometers.

That’s when it’s high time to stop.

It is ideal not to wait for fatigue and to take regular breaks approximately every two hours for at least 10 to 15 minutes outside the car. Take a walk, stretch your legs, shoulders and neck, breathe fresh air.

2. Plan breaks earlier with children and pets

With children and pets, a break is not a delay, but a prevention. Small children need movement, toilet, food and change of environment more often than adults. Similarly, a dog or other animal in the car will appreciate the opportunity to drink, ventilate and walk for a while outside the confined space.

When children are already tired, hungry or bored, they start to disturb and the driver loses attention. Places where children can safely walk, sit at the table or have fun outside the car for a while help.

If you are traveling with an animal, also think about water, a lead and shade. It is practical to plan a longer break, for example for lunch, so that everyone can eat in peace, take a breather and continue in a better mood.

New Shell Cafe menu it combines a main dish, a side dish and a drink and represents a quick and convenient solution on the go. There are several variants of popular dishes on offer – Shell burger menu with chicken cutletminced meat or fried cheese, as well as the Classic or Maxi hot dog menu.

The menu includes chips or cheese snacks in the form of crispy corn balls, and there is also a selection of different types of drinks.

Both children and adults can enjoy Shell Café’s sweeter novelties, for example mango dessert with yogurt or pistachio dessert with cottage cheese, pistachio cream and raspberries.

3. Eat so that food does not make you sleepy

A hungry driver is a nervous driver. If you have a long journey ahead of you, don’t forget to eat before you leave. It is worth reaching for food that fills you up, but does not weigh you down. A good basis is proteins, a little high-quality fat, vegetables and an adequate portion of carbohydrates.

If you are going on vacation early in the morning and you are not used to breakfast so early, save the first meal of the day for the first break of your trip. In the Shell Café you can find a hearty and high-quality breakfast, for example bagel with ox eyewith bacon, cheddar and spring onions or a novelty – cheese croissant with eggwhich combines eggs, Hollandaise and Camembert cheese, spring onion, dill and mustard-dill dressing in a soft croissant.

Lighter news also includes Caesar Sandwich Duo with chicken, bacon, cheese and caesar dressing in a combination of light and dark bread or salad with scallions, pears, walnuts and pomegranate.

A simple rule is: the longer the journey ahead of you, the more reasonable it is to choose lighter food and smaller portions.

4. Stop for coffee

If you only drink coffee when your eyelids are drooping, it may be too late. Caffeine needs approximately 45 minutes to take full effect. Therefore, it is better to drink coffee during the planned break and not get behind the wheel immediately. Caffeine can help increase alertness, but it doesn’t work immediately and isn’t a life saver when you’re exhausted.

At Shell Café, they work with two coffee blends. Shell Café Espresso blend it combines 80% arabica and 20% robusta, has a darker roast, fuller body and notes of dark chocolate. It is especially suitable for espresso, cappuccino, flat white or latte. Shell Café Lungo is 100% Arabica with a lighter roastwith a softer profile, caramel and fruit notes, suitable especially for lungo, americano or iced coffees.

The quality of the resulting drink is affected not only by the coffee itself, but also by preparation, working with milk, maintenance of technology and training of personnel. This is also why the staff of Shell gas stations undergo barista training with professional trainers, so that you can treat yourself to an honestly prepared coffee even during a stop on the road.

Don’t forget (not only) to have a glass of water with your coffee. Dehydration can be manifested by headache, fatigue and poor concentration. It is best to drink continuously in smaller sips, not to drink a large bottle at once.

5. Tip from professionals

A so-called “coffee nap” helps some drivers. It works simply: you take a small espresso and immediately take a nap for 15 to 20 minutes. Caffeine kicks in around the time you wake up, and a short nap can help overcome an acute slump.

If you are so exhausted that your eyes close repeatedly, a short break is not enough. Then it is safer to interrupt the trip, take turns behind the wheel or treat yourself to a longer sleep.

6. A passenger is not just a passenger

A good passenger can also help the driver significantly on a long journey. His task is to monitor the navigation, take care of a high-quality playlist, podcasts, drinking regime, deal with the children in the back seat and especially notice if the driver is getting tired.

The signs of fatigue tend to be clear: the driver yawns more often, talks less, loses the thread of the conversation, seems irritated or has a “glassy” look. Then the passenger should not wait for the driver to admit the problem himself. Suffice it to say: let’s stop for a few minutes.

If the passenger has a driver’s license, it is ideal to take turns on longer routes. Even half an hour of rest away from the wheel can make a big difference.

A long journey does not have to be a test of endurance. If you plan it well, breaks will not seem like a waste of time, but a way to reach your destination safer and in a better mood. And when the stop is combined with good coffee, something tasty and a few minutes of real rest, the journey is immediately easier to bear.

Therefore, a Shell stop does not have to be just a place to fill up with Shell V-Power fuels, which, thanks to their advanced composition, help keep your car’s engine clean and protected. It can also be a small break that will help the entire crew to continue more safely, more calmly and with a greater desire to travel.

The article was prepared in cooperation with Shell.