Best advice for staying alert on a long drive?

Question

I have to drive for a total of 8 hours. What's the best advice for staying awake? My only planned break is midway through; and I can't take a longer break as there is a storm coming, and I would prefer to miss it.

Answer 1

Hi Martha,

Please consider Red Bull, or a triple-shot latte. Get some vanilla or hazelnut (my favorite) put into it, and also use eye-drops to keep your eyes from getting tired and dry.

Answer 2

Take a bag of sunflower seeds with you and eat those along the way. Truckers who do long hauls do the same thing. Moving your mouth keeps you awake.

Answer 3

Take some upbeat music that you can sing along with.  Also, refocus your eyes every now and then by looking around to the sides - dont concentrate on the distance ahead.  Dont eat a full meal before driving or you'll get sleepy.  Keep the window down/cracked so you get fresh air in.  Make sure your cell is charged in case you need to talk to someone.  Listening to a good talk radio show is also helpful, especially if the subject matter is interesting.

Answer 4

make sure you have had sufficient rest before starting your trip, don't listen to 'soft jazz/smooth urban contemprary' music, make a plan ahead of time with a friend or family member to make a call about halfway to your planned rest stop, and make sure that when it's time to make your call, you do so when you're NOT moving.  stop for the couple of minutes it will take to make the call. that will break up the trip into more easily managed 'chunks'...make sure that when you stop, you get out of the vehicle for fresh air and a chance to stretch your legs.

Answer 5

- listen to upbeat music (no slow songs)

- roll your window down every once in a while

- don't eat a lot (makes you tired)

- sleep well the night before

good luck!!

Answer 6

If you get sleepy,   stop.  

The right kind of snacks can help,   stay away from those high in sugars,  such as candy and pop.    The lift from those is only temporary and the fall is steep.  

A short stretch every 1.5 to 2 hours works wonders.   Walk around the car,  stretch the back muscles,   get the blood moving.

No dairy products,   milk tends to help one unwind and relax.

Coffee,  but limited amounts.    Too much doesn't help.

Sing with the radio.

Plenty of fresh air.   Stale air makes you sleepy.

Answer 7

Keep your taste buds awake. This may raise your level of alertness for a reasonable mount of driving time. Suck or munch on an apple, orange, or even a lemon to keep taste buds awake. The more tangy the food item the better.

Eat slowly. If you have a snack that comes in small pieces, eat them one at a time. Otherwise, take small bites of whatever you've got. Make it last. The more active you are, the easier it'll be to stay awake.

Drink beverages slowly. Coffee works especially well since it contains caffeine, which might keep you awake. Also, the frequent bathroom stops will help your mind stay alert for the next rest area!

Listen to music that you hate. The more annoying you find it, the better. Whatever you do, don't listen to music you like, especially if it's rhythmic and soothing. You'll go into your happy zone and start to nod off. If possible, tune to a station that you normally can't stand--the variety of a radio station will help. Put the volume up high.

Sing along. Or, have a conversation with someone in the car. (Avoid talking on a cell phone, though, as this brings its own set of dangerous risks.) Singing and talking are both active things you can do that won't interfere with your driving.

Open the window. A strong, cold wind in your face can help you stay alert, although make sure it doesn't dry out your eyes to the point of challenging how well you can see (this is especially common if you wear contact lenses).

Periodically shake your head from side to side and take a deep breath. Slap your own face if you have to.

Consider prescription medication if sleepiness while driving is an unavoidable hazard, such as if you have shift work sleep disorder (SWSD).

Place the seat in a position you are not used to. Be sure not to place your seat into such a position that the airbag will injure you if deployed. But make sure you keep a good visibility of the road and the mirrors. When you get used to it, change the position again!

Do something that engages more then one sense... crunching on ice chips or eating sunflower seeds are great because it keeps you engaged but not distracted from the road.

Eat ice. I can't explain why, but this works extremely well for me. You don't necessarily have to crunch it, so perhaps it's something about the cold. It works well for afternoon meetings, too.

Answer 8

Red Bull is excellent, it works better than the coffee for me as it doesn't put som much strain on my stomach. It is more efficient with some light snack (not sweet) as digestion helps to distribute Red Bull components into your body.

A short break, 2-3 minutes, used for some light excercise (stretching, etc) would do as well.

I also like listening spoken words, some audio comedy plays, stand-up comedians...., light entertainment, basically :-)

I often drive 7-8 hours when I go to see my parents, usually Friday out, Sunday back.... I do all those things and there's nothing better than a cold beer with my dad:-)

take care

Answer 9

Get some good sleep the night before. I don't recommend coffee, just because it doesn't work for me, but if it works for you, go right ahead. I would stay away from energy drinks cause it raises your heart rate and depending on who, you might crash(your body) later on, no pun intended. Have a good meal. Try to avoid driving at night. I would also keep towelettes and wipe. That will keep you refreshed. Having company will help and it will help the time pass faster. good luck, hope i helped.

Answer 10

If you are travelling west, start out early in the morning after a light breakfast. The sun won't be in your eyes. If going east, later in the morning is better so that you won't have the sun in your eyes.  A heavy meal will make you feel sluggish.Drink lots of water to keep you hydrated. Eat fruit. Stop every two hours for a quick stretch or a quick walk or run. It only takes a couple of minutes. If you can't stop, then chew gum, keep the temperature down and the airflow going at a low speed to give you oxygen. Also play some rock or country music to stimulate your brain. Keep your eyes moving and dont stare at the center line.Also keep a bottle of eyedrops and tissues with you to freshen your eyes when you do stop for a few minutes. When you use the washroom, splash water on your face to freshen up.

I have spent many hours driving on the roadways of North America. You should stop more than once. It will keep you invigorated and you'll reach your destination with a better attitude and you'll feel less fatigued.

Answer 11

i read an article on this.  dont drink coffee or anything for energy, you will crash later on.  get a good night sleep for a couple nights.  rolling your windows down may wake you up momentarily, but not effectively.  if you can, drive with a friend to talk to.

Singing along to your music will help.  But really sing not just mumble haha.  Also, sunflower seeds help.  moving your mouth keeps you awake and also avoids your ears popping if you are going over mountains.  

Dont eat too much before or during.  digesting takes energy and makes you sleepy

Answer 12

As a long haul drivers we can and frequently drive 11 hrs daily as the law allows.  I find that being rested before driving is the best insurance against fatigue. I know some people who work a full day and then try to leave on a trip after work,,,bad idea. Energy drinks only delay fatigue for a short while. Avoid air blowing in your face, this causes dryness in your eyes causing you to blink, or squint,,( wear sunglasses in bright sun/snow conditions for the same reason). Have plenty of water available but do not  drink it all at once,,pace yourself. Most importantly ,,keeps your eyes moving. I check left mirror,,right mirror corner mirrors ,scan gages, and look as far forward looking for traffic road conditions. and then do it again. Focus, focus, focus on the trip itself, not just your comfort level. To much comfort can really relax you. Take a break,,stretch,, keep the blood circulating, and take a bathroom break to avoid the discomfort.  Remember moving eyes will not sleep. Also be sure to check your routing to make sure your 8 hr drive does not turn into 10hrs..Good Luck be Safe !