Driving when tired...

[Bananabread123]

... We're told not to do this, and I totally understand why... BUT, it's not like driving after drinking which you can readily control. Say I've had a crap night, I can hardly call into work and say 'sorry, I feel tired, and as I have to drive in I'll won't be coming in'..... Or my daughter needs picking up from her dance class, and I've had a long day and feeling exhausted, I can't exactly leave her there...

And yet I've often heard and read glib 'never drive when you're tired' on MN and other places.

So what's the solution? A stiff coffee is the only practical answer as far as I can see, unless you literally haven't slept for days and are genuinely struggling to keep your eyes open, when you may need to accept you just can't drive safely.

[e1y1]

Driving tired is as dangerous as driving drunk, but it depends on a few different things, "tired" affects everyone differently, also "how" tired you are.

If I am feeling not at my best (just a bit tired and could do with a nap etc), I will try to avoid driving where I can. If I am off-my-face tired (not slept at all the night before or something), I won't drive at all.

2 cups of strong coffee is supposed to be good if you need to drive somewhere (although not a long/unusual journey). Only other advice is what is already said, don't drive tired.

[HeCantBeSerious]

2nd thread about this today.

Fresh air and singing help me. Otherwise, a 20 min power nap.

[RiverTam]

MN is very glib about stuff like this, you're right there. Most of us will have driven when we're not 100% wide awake.

I wouldn't drive from London to Glasgow if I was knackered, but I would locally.

[DomesticAnarchist]

YANBU OP. (I have a frequently-waking 6mo. I can't remember what not-tired is!)

Also when it snows and the met office (or whoever) say 'only drive if it's essential' - so, that'll be to work and back then unless I want to be sacked.

[OhTheRoses]

DH once tore ligaments the night before we came back from holiday. Same night ds who was about 16 stayed out until 4am so I was awake and worrying about both of them.

Had to drive from South of France to The Loire. Horrid drive - coffee fuelled.

[e1y1]

Mythbusters did it as an experiment (driving drunk vs driving tired). They drove worst whilst driving tired HERE

[Stopyourhavering]

Dh has no choice but to drive when he's tired sometimes....what's the alternative?

[NewIdeasToday]

Cans of Monster or another energy drink help if you have no choice but to drive.

[DomesticAnarchist]

Not every day though NewIdeas!

[Cockadoodledooo]

Many years ago I was given a tip that works for me - lick your finger and rub it across your eyebrow. Drive with the window open a little. Works for me.

Can't do the coffee thing as if I drink it after midday I can't sleep that night and my problem will be worse the next day.

[Ameliablue]

The problem is that it is subjective. There is a legal limit for drinking but how tired is to tired? If i think I'm too tired to be safe i don't drive but I'm always tired so it's not really tiredness that is the deciding factor, more concentration.

[PinkSwimGoggles]

20min power nap (possible even after a bad night)
and yes, driving tired is dangerous.
if you feel like shit drink a glass of water and lie down for 10-20 min.

[honeyroar]

I'm long haul cabin crew. I've met quite a few colleagues over the years that have had massive accidents due to driving tired. It's just not worth it!

I will have a can of Red Bull or a strong coffee when I need to drive and feel tired. Eating something helps too. Cold, fresh air is good, and music playing. Airwaves chewing gum is good for a quick fix too. But at the end of the day nothing works if you're really tired. A 20 min power nap works best of all.

[Sallystyle]

I'm tired after a 12.5 hour night shift. I have to drive because there are no buses at that time.

I hate it, windows down and it helps a lot.

[PNGirl]

My dad drove a lot for work before he retired and was an expert at pulling over, napping for about 8-10 minutes and waking up fresh as a daisy. Same on long drives with me and mum in the car. It was creepy!

[quasibex]

It depends on the roads I need to drive on whether I'll drive tired.

Locally I live in the city, if you can drive more than 1 minute without encountering a junction/crossing/traffic lights you're having a good day. No matter how tired you are this sort of driving forces concentration (unless you're so tired you could pass for drunk anyway in which case it's a moot point).

However anything requiring 5 or more minutes of 'hypnotic' driving (dual carriage ways, uninterrupted country roads, motorway etc) then I refuse to drive until rested.