Police Use Chili Peppers to Keep Drivers from Nodding Off
Falling asleep at the wheel can, and does, happen everywhere in the world whenever drivers push themselves to do more than they should.
In Beijing, China, the police have discovered a novel solution to deal with this problem by serving drivers chili peppers at highway service stations.
The police in southwest China believe that for some reason, drivers are often sleepier in the spring than at other times of the year. China’s roads are considered the most dangerous in the world due to overloaded and speeding trucks and drivers who switch lanes without signaling and often ignore traffic lights.
In keeping with the approaching spring season and a host of expected fatalities, the police have cleverly introduced a plan they believe will help reduce some of these incidents.
Since most of the drivers targeted are from Chinese provinces where chilies are a local staple and favorite, it seemed logical to try out this novel plan on them.
“It’s really good to have some hot peppers when you are tired from driving. They make you alert,†said van driver, Chen Jun.
Well, the AAA might have its doubts, but whatever floats (or in this case, heats up) one’s boat and reduces road fatalities is certainly worth a sincere and very hot try.
Chili, anyone?
(Link)
By MDeeDubroff on 27-03-2009
Comment by sir jorge
March 27th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
now that’s an awesome news post
Comment by zeeohsix
March 28th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
that’s like Black Black gum
Comment by Ground Drivers
May 29th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Wooo.. that'd wake you up fast! Haha.
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Ground Rod Drivers
Comment by Ground Drivers
May 29th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
Wooo.. that'd wake you up fast! Haha.
Comment by Cigars
June 1st, 2009 at 9:11 pm
"that's like Black Black gum " with a hint of OUCH!
Comment by Deep Fryer
September 24th, 2009 at 2:24 am
That's weird. Are they actually force feeding them to the drivers or just offering them? People in the US would never voluntarily buy them or eat them without some sort of consequence. And how does that keep you awake? I guess your mouth is so hot you just can't fall asleep…
Comment by Uncle B
December 10th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
Soon, China will see the good sense of electric bullet trains and computers for drivers – allowing folks to nod off whenever they feel the very human need! Americans white knuckle to longer destinations when they too could be in the bar car, but changing them from the current paradigm will take time! For some asinine reason GM in the thirties tore up the tracks for trams and trains, and now cannot fulfill the "Car" dream any longer – we need to step back to the original, much better situation where transportation costs were state held, and the working patriot only had to invest wages in a ticket to ride! This difference alone will leave much more of his wages on the working patriot's pockets for mortgages, food and small luxuries – the car has been a great drain on him all these years in America, and with planned obsolescence practiced in their manufacture, an undue one! China Beware! The capitalist's bag – full of tricks!