"It's really good to have some hot peppers when you are tired from driving. They make you alert." Reuters .
That’s a voice from China.
That sounds sensible. Police in Southwest China are spicing up drivers with raw chili in a bid to stop them falling asleep at the wheel.
Road traffic is spiraling with commuters all round the clock and it is natural that truck drivers who span the length and breadth of a nation tend to nod off wearily. Overloaded and speeding trucks and drivers who switch lanes without signaling and often ignore traffic lights are a perpetual hazard.
Another reason for road accidents is drunk driving. Drivers presume that a little slip off a bottle will help soothe their aching nerves and give them more stamina to drive. But sadly a sip always follows another sip till the nerves are relaxed and the tippler’s mind goes numb.
China's roads have long been among the most dangerous in the world The Chinese are getting smarter than the rest of the world. They do have a fight until you fall attitude. They have come up with the novel idea of supplying the truck drivers with red chilli and pepper in an attempt to stop them from falling asleep at the wheel.
What sounds more interesting and encouraging is that policemen themselves have undertaken the task of serving the drivers chilli peppers at highway service stations.
Happily enough the people of China are chilli friendly. Chillies are a local favorite in the neighborhood. It is a traditional belief in China that people are more prone to drowsiness in spring season. A timely thought off measure indeed. If all goes well, chilli treats will be a 24x7x365 affair and hopefully many other countries will start emulating China.
The best outcome of it all is the better rapport that will be built among policemen and truck drivers.
don't be silly! here in India our truckers have their time-tested tobacco chewing, snuff and cigarettes to keep them awake. no doubt chilly is cost effective (!) and most suited for present global slowdown.
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