Not tested it on any drive but its effective, i did it a couple of times.![[embarass]](https://www.theautomotiveindia.com/forums/images/smilies/Embarass.gif "Embarass [embarass]")
How To Avoid ‘Sleep’ While Driving at Night?
- Thread Starter Akash
- Start date
Yeah i Slept once while driving,that too it was evening,at that time i had 6 months of driving experience,and was my first drive to native,on NH-17,mumbai-goa highway(head on traffic condition).I ate light lunch,as my dad use to do,rest excluding my dad has dozed off.i don`t know what happened but i was feeling sleepy,and i closed my eyes and something weird happened,An opel corsa,white color(do remember it quite well),was honking aloud,flashing.Later do i realized that i was on the wrong lane(opposite)![[frustration]](https://www.theautomotiveindia.com/forums/images/smilies/Frustration.gif "Frustration [frustration]")
,and poor corsa guy pulled his car outside the road or it would be fatal accident.Dad asked me to pull of the car and later asked me to wash my eyes,and he drove the later journey.Since then dared not to sleep even at long odd hours..
My advise would be:
-Just when you feel tired, pullout somewhere,wash your face and walk for 50-100meters from the car,do some little exercise to keep warm(stretching legs,arms,neck exercise).
-Feeling sleepy,pullout,take a power nap.
-Avoid night journey(especially long once) if possible.
-Try to cover most distance in day time.
-Chat with your Co-passenger,sitting besides,ensure that he\she doesn't sleep.(Always works)
-Drink plenty of Water.
-Specially during nights,drive at safe speed, doesn't matter if you reach a hour late.
-Ensure your alert,and keep eye on reckless drivers.
-Listen to your favorite music,try to sing.
-Use low beam.
,and poor corsa guy pulled his car outside the road or it would be fatal accident.Dad asked me to pull of the car and later asked me to wash my eyes,and he drove the later journey.Since then dared not to sleep even at long odd hours..My advise would be:
-Just when you feel tired, pullout somewhere,wash your face and walk for 50-100meters from the car,do some little exercise to keep warm(stretching legs,arms,neck exercise).
-Feeling sleepy,pullout,take a power nap.
-Avoid night journey(especially long once) if possible.
-Try to cover most distance in day time.
-Chat with your Co-passenger,sitting besides,ensure that he\she doesn't sleep.(Always works)
-Drink plenty of Water.
-Specially during nights,drive at safe speed, doesn't matter if you reach a hour late.
-Ensure your alert,and keep eye on reckless drivers.
-Listen to your favorite music,try to sing.
-Use low beam.
I do long distances fairly frequently. Here's what I do:
1) Chewing gum:I ensure carrying chewing gum, and I chew them.
2) Air-conditioning: Keep the air-conditioner slightly on the cooler side. A very cozy/warm/optimum temperature will make you doze as it feels 'womb like'. Colder temperature keeps you awake to some extent because you feel cold.
3) Stop-over/nap:Don't post-pone a much needed stop-over for a short nap by even a couple of minutes. I once post-poned a stop-over by a couple of minutes and almost lost out. Ensure you park in a safe place by the road (toll gates, check posts, petrol stations, etc).
4) Break in journey:Take frequent driving breaks.
5) Last leg tendency: There's a tendency to speed up or not stop if you're close to the destination. Don't take chances. If you're on the last leg of your journey, don't compromise on a stop-over.
6) Food: Eat foods that don't put you to sleep. High carb foods can make you drowsy. E.g.Instead of south Indian meals (rice) I opt for parottas.
Wishing everybody a happy and safe journey.
1) Chewing gum:I ensure carrying chewing gum, and I chew them.
2) Air-conditioning: Keep the air-conditioner slightly on the cooler side. A very cozy/warm/optimum temperature will make you doze as it feels 'womb like'. Colder temperature keeps you awake to some extent because you feel cold.
3) Stop-over/nap:Don't post-pone a much needed stop-over for a short nap by even a couple of minutes. I once post-poned a stop-over by a couple of minutes and almost lost out. Ensure you park in a safe place by the road (toll gates, check posts, petrol stations, etc).
4) Break in journey:Take frequent driving breaks.
5) Last leg tendency: There's a tendency to speed up or not stop if you're close to the destination. Don't take chances. If you're on the last leg of your journey, don't compromise on a stop-over.
6) Food: Eat foods that don't put you to sleep. High carb foods can make you drowsy. E.g.Instead of south Indian meals (rice) I opt for parottas.
Wishing everybody a happy and safe journey.
Thanks Akash for the thread. Thanks others giving their piece of advices / tips.
There are few like me where 'Power nap' do not work. I always wonder how they sleep for 10 minutes, 1hr and be fresh afterwards. When ever i sleep and called in 1hr, i just cant control my cool and shout at who ever disturbs me. If i sleep, i sleep for hours. 10 minutes sleep or 1 hr sleep does not give any confidence. (for me)
Drove only twice at night. The things i do
I do not drive alone. Never tried chewing gum and other mentioned stuffs.
We normally avoid driving at night. We sleep early on previous day and get up around 3AM and drive. So, chances of sleeping are minimal.
Second driver - I cant sleep when our car is driven by someone else at night. He may not be careful as you. It is your hard earned money.
Be safe. Try the power nap if you are comfortable. Or sleep more time till you are absolutely sure.
Drive Safe
There are few like me where 'Power nap' do not work. I always wonder how they sleep for 10 minutes, 1hr and be fresh afterwards. When ever i sleep and called in 1hr, i just cant control my cool and shout at who ever disturbs me. If i sleep, i sleep for hours. 10 minutes sleep or 1 hr sleep does not give any confidence. (for me)
Drove only twice at night. The things i do
- Just get my wife in the front seat. She will never sleep. We make a good company. I do not believe any one else normally. She knows the value of our car.
- Chit chat about something or some heated discussion.
- If no topic, we play some music and discuss line by line (try to understand the meaning of word by word) <- This works the best for me. Always play / pause with one hand moving.
- Lower the windows in between and hear the outside sound.
- Stop and get out from car and stretch my legs for few minutes. Be fresh completely before getting in again.
- When driving on the highway, look for next CCD /eateries on the road. Not to eat, just to be alert.
- Get in to Coffee day and have a tea/coffee. We spend sometime looking at their merchandise too (another topic for discussion from then on)
I do not drive alone. Never tried chewing gum and other mentioned stuffs.
We normally avoid driving at night. We sleep early on previous day and get up around 3AM and drive. So, chances of sleeping are minimal.
Second driver - I cant sleep when our car is driven by someone else at night. He may not be careful as you. It is your hard earned money.
Be safe. Try the power nap if you are comfortable. Or sleep more time till you are absolutely sure.
Drive Safe
Even I have not noticed it in any shops. Just came across it over the internet.
This video will help to understand better Anti Sleep Driving Alarm - YouTube
This video will help to understand better Anti Sleep Driving Alarm - YouTube
The best idea would be not to drive alone so that the person going with you takes care in case you feel sleepy.If however you need to travel alone just keep listening to music and take foods that don't put you to sleep.
I usually keep the A.C. at lowest temp. and music at the highest possible volumes to keep me woke but if you have someone to talk to you, then nothing would be better than this.
What works best for me is a 5 Hour Energy shot or even Redbull shot whatever I can get. They have the same amount of caffeine as a 500ml can.
Nice article, Thank You Akash. ![[clap]](https://www.theautomotiveindia.com/forums/images/smilies/Clap.gif "Clap [clap]")
I agree with 'rekharam' as nothing would keep energize like a good sleep. Recently I too had to travel in the middle of the night. Since I was tired of driving all day long, at some particular point I had a blink of sleep and it was a national highway. Fortunately, it was a four lane and so fortunately, nobody was behind at that particular point. It was a scary moment. I stopped my car in the next petrol station and slept for 3 hours. Needless to say, the journey was fine after that.![[:D]](https://www.theautomotiveindia.com/forums/images/smilies/Big%20Smile.gif "Big Smile [:D]")
I agree with 'rekharam' as nothing would keep energize like a good sleep. Recently I too had to travel in the middle of the night. Since I was tired of driving all day long, at some particular point I had a blink of sleep and it was a national highway. Fortunately, it was a four lane and so fortunately, nobody was behind at that particular point. It was a scary moment. I stopped my car in the next petrol station and slept for 3 hours. Needless to say, the journey was fine after that.
Last month, I had to go to Shimla ( my hometown). I always start the journey after the office hours. I have been doing it on monthly basis, but that particular day, I had a busy day at office, had to go to Alwar ( about 300 KMS to and Fro) for official work and then later at around 6 i left for Shimla. I had'nt even crossed Delhi and I started yawning like anything.
Firstly I decided to halt at Chandigarh, but due to early work at Shimla, i cancelled it and planned to drive to Shimla.
What I did:
1. Loud Music ( not too loud but yes Loud).
2. Skipped the Dinner ( this really helps).
3. I kept talking to my wife and then we were singing the songs together, also we started playing a quiz - asking each other the name of the movies ( the song of which being played) story lineup and what not.( Really enjoyed)
4. Taking a Pee break at every toll that came my way. ( total 5 till Shimla)
Even after doing this, when I was about 30 KMS before Shimla, I was really tired and the feeling that I got that moment was as if I was drunk. From that day, I refrain from Driving at night.
Firstly I decided to halt at Chandigarh, but due to early work at Shimla, i cancelled it and planned to drive to Shimla.
What I did:
1. Loud Music ( not too loud but yes Loud).
2. Skipped the Dinner ( this really helps).
3. I kept talking to my wife and then we were singing the songs together, also we started playing a quiz - asking each other the name of the movies ( the song of which being played) story lineup and what not.( Really enjoyed)
4. Taking a Pee break at every toll that came my way. ( total 5 till Shimla)
Even after doing this, when I was about 30 KMS before Shimla, I was really tired and the feeling that I got that moment was as if I was drunk. From that day, I refrain from Driving at night.