We’ve all been there, trying to avoid driving tired while going across state lines in the middle of the night. The feeling of exhaustion sets in after an hour or so of being behind the wheel. If you’ve found yourself almost dosing off behind the wheel, here are some ways to avoid tired driving in the future. I’ll be stating some obvious ones we all know and some that you may not have thought to try.
1 Sleep – Did you get enough to avoid tired driving?
Getting a good night’s sleep is the best and most effective way to prevent tired driving. But a good night’s sleep means something different for everyone. At my previous job, I worked with a man who stated he got an average of 5 hours of sleep. He was always wide awake and seemed fine from an outside perspective. I’m going to assume that you’re not like him, and neither am I. Get the amount of sleep that is right for you, whether that’s 7 hours or 10 hours; doing what makes your body feel right is going to be your best bet in avoiding tired driving.
2 Podcast – No late night DJ voices though
While listening to calming music is an excellent option. While driving for an extended period, low-fi or meditation music probably isn’t your best bet to avoid tired driving. I recommend finding an entertaining podcast. One of my absolute favorites is called Hidden Brain. It gets your attention and educates you on how the brain works and how experiences shape people into who they are. For the business owners or entrepreneurs out there, The Garyvee Audio Experience is another favorite of mine. He’s upbeat and inspirational for those looking for that type of listening experience.
3 Music – Everyone loves Brittany
If you’re not a podcast type of person, make sure what you’re listening to is going to keep you attentive and awake. Try getting back to your roots and rock out to your old 90’s mix, that one where you know all the words. It’s tough to fall asleep while you’re singing your heart out to your favorite Britney Spears track.
4 Caffeine – Everyone’s go-to when avoiding tired driving
I don’t recommend getting a 2 liter of Mountain Dew because you’ll be stopping every hour to use the bathroom. For me, a French roast Biggby with an espresso shot has always done the trick of preventing tired driving. Bringing your own travel cup to the coffee shop is an added plus. I tend to drink my coffee faster once it gets colder, but it’ll be piping hot for much longer in your travel mug. This is a significant help, so you don’t drink your coffee too fast, making bathroom breaks more frequent. But also, the lasting warmth of the coffee is a nice wake-up in itself with every sip you take.
5 Night driving – Remember Harry on his way to Aspen
If nothing else does, the monotony of driving at night is bound to make anyone tired behind the wheel. It’s like a trance for me when driving at night. The constant lines on the road and the surroundings of darkness make for a very dull and uneventful drive. If you can avoid it, don’t drive at night whenever possible.
6 A nap? – Just like your little one needs
Unless you’re a truck driver driving for an entire shift, it’s not ordinary for someone to pull into a rest stop for a quick nap. But knowing yourself and paying attention to the signs of tired driving can save you and others from catastrophe. If you think you need a short rest, take it. A quick 20-minute nap will get you a couple of hours of energy, so the remainder of your trip is a safe one.
7 Timing – Earlier is always better
This goes well with the previous recommendation of taking a nap if you’re tired while driving. Giving yourself extra time on a long drive makes a 20-minute nap insignificant to your expected arrival time at your destination. Leaving an hour or two earlier than your GPS tells you to go gives you an easy decision on that nap you think you need. Leaving early also helps if you’re hungry or need to make unexpected bathroom breaks. You’ll feel more comfortable knowing you gave yourself extra time to make it to your destination on time.
8 Stimulants and Depressants – You know where I’m going with this one
This one is pretty self-explanatory, but don’t drink alcohol before you know you have to drive. And if you have to take medications that make you drowsy, plan ahead of time. Make sure you’re planning your trip and medications around each other. Don’t run into a situation where you have to take your medications, and you have 3 to 4 hours of driving ahead of you.
9 Game Time! – What’s your favorite?
My family used to play games on long family trips. One classic I still play with my daughter still is the alphabet game. You must find each letter in the alphabet from signs, license plates, anything outside of the vehicle. Whoever gets from A to Z first wins! Another one is a modified alphabet game called “I’m going camping.” You say you’re going camping and bringing (blank) with you. You go through the entire alphabet coming up with something you’re “taking camping” while memorizing all the things each person has said before. A quick example is, “I’m going camping, and I’m bringing an apple, a banana, a camel, and a donkey.” It’s your turn for E. Do you remember the ones that were said already?
It is challenging to avoid tired driving sometimes. But I hope you’ll use some of these tips on your next trip to keep you, your passengers, and others on the road safe.
What do you do to avoid tired driving? Let us know, we love hearing from our readers.
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