Avoiding driving while drowsy

[Conan The Librarian]

I've got quite a method for avoiding driving while drowsy on long trips. Mainly, I stop whenever I feel like I might be getting tired, and take a nap. I might take four naps a day, ranging from 30 minutes to an hour per nap. Keeps me alert.
 
How do you handle sleep on long trips?
 
I used to try to fight sleep, now I embrace it and my road trips are better because of it, not to mention safer.
 
Sometimes tiredness comes on quickly, and I have to fight it long enough to make it to the next exit.

[DalesCarpentry]

The last 2 trips I made the one from Pa to Fl and the one from Fl to Tx I stopped at a store and bought one of those little bottles of 5 hour energy. It worked very well for me. Prior to that on long trips I used No Doze but I feel the later works better. My trip from Fl to Tx I only took a 45 minute nap because of the rest stop I was at just outside New Orleans did not seem very safe. Dale

[Old Fart]

When I was younger this was a problem.
What worked for me back then was big bag of sunflower seeds.
 
Now days I can go for hours without getting sleepy.
Biggest problem now is I get stiff and sore. 

[guzzijohn]

Quote from Old Fart:
"Now days I can go for hours without getting sleepy.Biggest problem now is I get stiff and sore.  "


Pain helps to keep from falling asleep.
GuzziJohn

[briarpatch]

When I am alone I dont have a problem at all. I guess because I can scream, sing, play the radio when, where, how loud and long as I want. When it is cold outside I can roll down the windows and get fresh air. Just me doing what I want.
When someone is in the car forget it, I just stop a lot.

[Empty Quiver]

I drive a truck for a living. I have a few thoughts on this subject.


First there is a difference between being tired and what I call bored. Tired has no substitute for sleep, as far as safety is concerned. Bored however is a different subject.


I find getting out of the vehicle and walking briskly for several minutes something like 15 minutes can do wonders. Park and walk about two blocks for a cup of coffee. Another thing that can help a ton is to get into a brightly lit room for several minutes as this can help reset your internal clock, just driving with the dome light on for a bit can do it as well.


After trying the above and you still are getting drowsy you need sleep period.


I have one sure fire remedy and I'll be honest it is sure fire, but kinda spendy. Hit a few of those reflectors along the highway they will generally wake a feller up for a good hour or so. If you absolutely have to stay up for hours I recommend hitting an exit sign, time the tow truck arrives and you get done with all the paperwork and answer all the questions you'll be up for 6-8 hours no problem.

[magooch]

It's been a while since I've gotten drousy while driving, but when my wife and I do take longer cross country drives and I start to get sleepy, all I have to do is let my wife take the wheel and I'm wide awake.  It's not that she's a bad driver, it's just that she scares the snot out of me and she can't stay awake either.

[Spirithawk]

Chia seeds. It's the seed from a type of Sage. The tribes carried the seeds on long journeys as they are full of vitamins. A mere pinch of the tiny seeds chewed up will give you the energy of two or three cups of coffee without the caffeine jitters. You just feel awake and energized. They are so nutritious you can practicly live off of them alone.

[Old Fart]

  It's not that she's a bad driver, it's just that she scares the snot out of me and she can't stay awake either.

I've experienced this also. Works wonders!

[bilmac]

I agree with most everything here. I am good at napping and it works best. Sometimes I feel like I have to keep going for some reason and that is when it gets dangerous.

I had my worst experience a couple of summers ago, helping my neighbor out driving his big ol boat of a car. Following him so I thought I had to keep up. Fell asleep and woke up as soon as the car hit the rumble strip. The car was skidding, no problem, automatic response, foot off the gas steer into the skid. Only it didn't correct, I was immediately skidding off the other way.  After three or four passes back and forth across the highway, each one getting worse, I finally touched the brake a little bit. Immediately I was back in control again. I HAD BEEN DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON.  I learned a lesson from that, no CC when I'm sleepy.

[williamlayton]

I love to drive. I stop every two hours, fill up with gas--wheather or not it is needed--take a Bathroom break, walk around for 10/15 minutes and get back on the road.
I can make an easy 600 miles a day with this method---OH! I start out early and stop in the evening.
Blessings

[bilmac]

Me too. I usually avoid interstates and go slow. Inflation is already starting to take a bite on that pleasure. Used to be whenever I moved, I pretty well knew the roads around home within a few months. I've lived in this area 5 of 6 years now and still don't know my way around.

[Old Syko]

This is easy!  If ya don't want to get sleepy just drink a lot while you're driving.  Seriously!  Drink from 12 to 20 ounces of water every hour or so and you'll have to stop and pee often enough to avoid getting tired.

[Casull]

I wouldn't advise this, but for years my tactic was to rely on large amounts of diet Mt. Dew and slapping my face when I needed it (if you have a passenger, the first time or two that you do the latter WILL surprise them).  My main problem was that I would almost always begin a long trip AFTER working all day (I didn't want to waste precious hunting/fishing/vacation/etc. time sleeping the night before).  So, figure ten hours at work, followed by a couple of hours packing and THEN begin a 10 to 12 hour drive.  However, my last two trips back home I actually slept after work, started early the next morning, and was I surprised.  Fourteen hours, 900 miles and three stops (gas/bathroom) later, AND I actually felt pretty good when I got there.  Oh well, with age comes wisdom.

[ironglow]

Like EQ,my son is a truck driver..among other pursuits.  The suggestions EQ offered are all viable methods and I have a couple more which my son has shared.
  First off..there is no substitute for REAL SLEEP !  As Conan says short naps can be very refreshing, the usual term for them is "power naps"...about 20-25 minutes.
  Sometimes you're on the interstate and need to make just a few more miles before you can pull off to nap.  To remain awake for a few more miles..here's a couple suggestions;
 1) Slip your shoe off and run the accelerator with only your sock (or barefooted)..feeling the pedal differently will keep you awake for a while.
 
 2) If you prefer to leave your shoe on, then reach down..inside your sock and scratch your ankle vigorously..
 
   Always remember thouigh, there is no substitute for sleep itself..  take a power nap as soon as you can.

[Sourdough]

Last October I drove from Fairbanks Alaska, to Key West Florida.  When i got drowsy I pulled in and got a room for the night.  Some night I got a room around 11 PM.  Other night I stopped at 8 PM.  Also some mornings I got up and left the hotel early like 5 AM, other days I did not wake up till 9 AM.  I let my body dictate when I drove and when I slept.

I do not drive when drowsy, I will fall asleep, and I know it.   So when I get drowsy I stop driving period.  But i can drive 12 to 14 hours without getting too tired.  And sometimes I can go on for 16 to 18 hours, but those days are rare.   

[bilmac]

Man sourdough that's about as far as you can go on the continent without doubling back. That sounds like the kind of thing I do because I like to drive and hate to fly.

[guzzijohn]

Or you can go from Alaska to Florida this way!


http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/608/3739/Motorcycle-Article/Yamaha-FJR-Sets-Continent-Crossing-Record.aspx


GuzziJohn