What are some things that you can do to be in better conditions to drive, when you're too tired :) ?

Question

and/or didn't get enough sleep?

I know that the best thing is not to drive, but what do you do when you need to, there's no choice?

Thank you for any ideas! :)

Have a wonderful day! :)

Answer 1

unless there's an emergency, and no emergency crew to respond, there's always a choice...don't drive tired; it's every bit as dangerous as driving drunk.  your judgment is impaired, your reaction time suffers, and it's all too easy to nod off without realizing it...it only takes a second for a tragedy to occur! please please PLEASE trust me on this...i'm in the transportation industry and part of what i do is teach safety to new drivers-i could tell you stories that would give you nightmares, and i've had to deal with those who've been 'left behind'... i don't have all that many contacts, and i truly enjoy reading your Q&A-i can't afford to lose you; as a friend, the best advice i can give you is this: there is no destination important enough to risk your life and the lives of the other drivers on the road.

Answer 2

The best is to pull over and sleep.  Even a 20 minute power nap can be sufficient for some people.  

What works for me if I have to continue driving is to chew gum or sing along to the radio ( I don't know why but by continuously moving my jaw keeps me more awake ).

Another thing that works is for me is to just pull over for a couple of minutes and go for a short walk or do some jumping jacks.  The act of some physical activity will regenerate me for a while.

Answer 3

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 4

Drinking coffee is the main thing.  You can also roll down the windows when it's cool outside, because the cool air will keep you from relaxing.  And find a radio station you don't like and turn the music up loud--it will annoy you and keep you from getting too relaxed.

Answer 5

I drank lots of Soda and by the time I got close to the place I was going I really had to go to the restroom. hard to be sleepy when you are thinking about your bladder. I had the windows open and sang along really loud to my favorite songs and I really enjoyed the new scenery..I was excited and could not sleep.

Answer 6

Munch some snacks or have a candy or a chewing gum.

Drink some refreshing non-alcoholic drink, preferably hot drinks.

Loud music.

Answer 7

the only thing that really works is rest everything else just prolongs it.